WANA (Dec 09) – The Iranian Foreign Minister stated that the continuation of the Astana Process hinges on developments in Syria and the decisions made by Iran, Russia, and Turkey.

 

On Monday, December 9, Seyed Abbas Araqchi discussed the non-public parliamentary session regarding developments in Syria. He said, “In this meeting, I provided a report on the diplomatic efforts undertaken over the past few days, especially the session held on Saturday in Doha, along with the consultations and outcomes achieved.”

 

He added, “During the session, members of parliament raised questions about the pace and trajectory of developments in Syria, which we addressed, and important points were discussed. Overall, it was a productive exchange of views.”

 

Responding to a question about whether the opposition groups to Bashar al-Assad would be recognized and participate in the new round of the Astana Process, Araqchi said, “The Syrian government has never been a participant in the Astana Process. This initiative has always involved Iran, Turkey, and Russia. Whether this process will continue in the future depends on developments and the decisions of these three countries. Other Arab nations have never been part of the Astana discussions.”

 

The closed parliamentary session on Syrian developments was held today with the presence of Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araqchi.

 

Armed opposition groups in Syria, with support from certain countries and the involvement of fresh foreign forces, launched a large-scale offensive against Syrian army positions in northwest, west, and southwest Aleppo starting November 27, 2024.

 

Finally, in the early hours of Sunday, December 8, the Syrian Army Command announced in a statement the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s government.

 

The Iranian Foreign Ministry issued a statement yesterday regarding the recent developments in Syria, emphasizing, “Iran will spare no effort to help establish security and stability in Syria and will continue consultations with all influential parties, particularly in the region, to achieve this goal.”