In a rare public rebuke, Syria’s new Foreign Minister, Asaad Hassan Al-Shibani, issued a stark warning to Iran on Tuesday, December 24, urging Tehran to respect Syria’s sovereignty and refrain from inciting chaos. The statement, made on social media, comes just weeks after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the establishment of a new government in Damascus.
“Iran must respect the will of the Syrian people, the sovereignty of this country, and its safety. We warn them against spreading chaos in Syria and hold them accountable for the consequences of their recent statements,” Al-Shibani wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
This is the most direct criticism of Iran by Syria’s new rulers, who have repeatedly condemned Tehran’s role in the years-long civil war. Ahmad Al-Sharaa, leader of the now-ruling Tahrir Al-Sham group, has previously accused the Iranian regime’s military and proxy forces of contributing to the deaths and displacement of millions of Syrians while defending the Assad regime.
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The warning appears to be a response to recent remarks by the regime’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, who called on Syrian youth to resist the new government. In a December 22 speech, Khamenei stated, “We foresee a strong and honorable group emerging in Syria because Syrian youth have nothing left to lose. Their schools, universities, homes, and streets are unsafe. They must rise with strong resolve against those who designed and executed this insecurity.”
Khamenei’s rhetoric has been echoed by other Iranian officials and state media, intensifying Tehran’s verbal assault on the new Syrian leadership. Iranian propaganda has described Ahmad Al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani, as a puppet of foreign powers, with some outlets even labeling him as “Israeli-backed.”
Al-Sharaa, in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat on December 20, dismissed Khamenei’s statements and blamed Tehran for destabilizing the region. “By toppling Bashar al-Assad’s government, we have set Iran’s regional project back by 40 years,” Al-Sharaa said. “Syria under Assad became a platform for Iran to control key Arab capitals, expand wars, and destabilize the Gulf with drugs like Captagon.”
He further criticized Tehran’s proxy forces for dividing Syrians and creating widespread insecurity. In a separate meeting with Walid Jumblatt, leader of Lebanon’s Druze community, Al-Sharaa emphasized, “Iranian-backed militias were a source of division and concern for everyone in Syria.”
Despite Tehran’s attempts to maintain influence, the new Syrian leadership has openly distanced itself from the regime. Syria has resumed diplomatic ties with several regional and Western nations, with countries like Turkey and France reopening embassies in Damascus. In contrast, Iranian officials have admitted they lack direct communication channels with the new government.
Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed during a press conference on December 23 that Tehran has not established direct ties with Damascus since the Assad regime’s collapse. Meanwhile, the regime’s government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani hinted at potential talks to reopen Iran’s embassy in Damascus, though her remarks contradicted Khamenei’s confrontational tone.
As Tehran’s influence wanes, regional leaders, including Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, have urged Iran to rethink its approach following the events in Syria. Barbara Leaf, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, remarked, “Iran’s had decades now of the most predatory and destructive behavior and presence in Syria…mustered foreign militias, its own IRGC forces, Hizballah fighters, and really preyed upon and really viciously brutalized the Syrian people. So, it’s hard for me to imagine Iran having any role whatsoever. Why should it?”
The escalating tension underscores Tehran’s diminishing leverage in a region where its actions have long been viewed as destabilizing. The regime’s bluster appears increasingly disconnected from the shifting realities on the ground.
Source » ncr-iran