Iran must admit what it has done to Syrians before any mediation - FM Shaibani
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani stated that any potential mediation between Syria and Iran by Pakistan is contingent on Iran acknowledging its past actions in Syria. Shaibani emphasized that while diplomacy remains an option, relations cannot normalize until Iran addresses its military and financial support for the former Assad regime.
Why it matters
This signals a significant shift in Middle Eastern geopolitics following the collapse of the Assad government, highlighting the ongoing regional power realignment.
<p>
ISLAMABAD: Iran would first have to acknowledge what it had done to Syria and its people before any future Pakistan-led mediation could help restore ties between Damascus and Tehran, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani said on Thursday.</p>
Shaibani was speaking to journalists in Islamabad during his first official visit to Pakistan since the December 2024 overthrow of Bashar Assad, whose government was a close Iranian ally.</p>
Tehran provided Assad with extensive military and financial support during Syria’s nearly 14-year civil war, including through Iran-backed armed groups that fought alongside government forces.</p>
Asked whether Islamabad, which has mediated between Iran and the United States during their recent conflict, could play a similar role between Damascus and Tehran, Shaibani said no such proposal had been made during his visit.</p>
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in