WANA (Dec 31) – The leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group (HTS) stated that the new Syrian government cannot sever its relations with major countries, including the Islamic Republic of Iran.

 

Ahmad al-Sharaa, known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, said: “Syria cannot cut ties with a major country in the region like Iran, but the relations between Damascus and Tehran should be based on diplomatic principles, mutual respect for sovereignty, and non-interference in internal affairs.”

 

Ahmad  Al-Sharaa told Al Arabiya: “I believe that Iran’s role in the region should be positive and understandable.”

 

However, Abu Mohammad Al-Julani claimed: “The current phase requires Iran to reconsider its policies.”

He also mentioned that the military operations department of the Syrian armed opposition “has fulfilled its duty regarding the Iranian bases” in the country.

 

Continuing with statements against the Islamic Republic of Iran, he claimed: “I hope Iran will reconsider its interventions in the region. We expected positive statements from Iran. Iran should have aligned itself with the Syrian people. We did not enter Tehran; we entered our own cities.”

 

Previously, Ismail Baqaei, the spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed surprise at the baseless accusations by some media outlets against the Islamic Republic of Iran for interfering in Syria’s internal affairs, and he completely rejected such claims.

 

The spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated Iran’s principled stance in supporting Syria’s territorial integrity and national unity, the formation of an inclusive political system with the participation of all political factions, ethnicities, and religions in the country, respect for the rights of minorities, and the preservation of religious sites. He emphasized the need to prevent the spread of insecurity and violence against various segments of Syrian society and to ensure the safety of citizens.