Subscribe Today
Request a Clip
In a December 10, 2024, interview, Iranian Vice President and former Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif stated that Bashar Al-Assad’s government should have anticipated its downfall. He explained that after defeating the opposition on the battlefield, the regime should have engaged in dialogue with them. Zarif emphasized that arrogance is a key catalyst for downfall and that this issue is not unique to Assad. He also mentioned that Iran had advised the Assad regime to negotiate with the opposition, but the failure to do so resulted in short-lived victories. Zarif expressed Iran's readiness to establish good relations with the next Syrian government, reaffirming that Iran has always defended Syria from ISIS, a continuing threat. He further noted that Turkey’s long-term interests in Syria would be best served by an inclusive government that represents all groups and enjoys broad popular support.
Mohammad-Javad Zarif: "Bashar Al-Assad's government, the former Syrian government, should have expected this. When they beat the opposition groups on the battlefront, they should have had a dialogue with them, in order to find a solution for all parties involved, and for the solution to be permanent. Unfortunately, like anyone in similar situations – this is not just Bashar's problem – anyone would have become too arrogant, and arrogance is the catalyst of downfall.
[...]
"Arrogance over short-lived victories will bring new circumstances. This scenario happened in Syria. It was the oppression and [the regime's] failure to conduct dialogue in order to include all parties and create a more inclusive framework – which was the Islamic Republic's advice to the former Syrian government – that caused those victories to become short-lived. Therefore, this was expected to happen with time.
[...]
"The Islamic Republic is an independent regional superpower, and based on its national strength, Iran can claim that no one should have any designs against the Islamic Republic. Iran is ready to have good relations with the next government of Syria. We have always defended the Syrian people from the threat of ISIS terrorists. We believe that this danger is still threatening Syria. Those who have control over Syria should be worried, and they should adopt the way of cooperation [with Iran].
[...]
"Turkey has played a role in this situation, but Turkey's long term interests – and I say this as a long-time friend of Turkey – will only be achieved with the creation of an inclusive government, with popular support and inclusion of all the groups in Syria."
Latest Clips
