Iran says it is in indirect talks with Syria’s new government

A view shows Umayyad Square, after the ouster of Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria, January 18, 2025.
A view shows Umayyad Square, after the ouster of Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria, January 18, 2025.

Tehran has exchanged positive messages with Syria’s new government, an official revealed, but will make its final decision on its future role in the country “at the appropriate time.”

“We are monitoring the developments in Syria with deliberation and patience and will make our specific decision when the time is right,” Mohammadreza Raouf Sheibani, Iran’s special representative for West Asia, said in an interview published Saturday.

He confirmed the recent remarks of Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani about an exchange of “positive messages” between Tehran and Damascus following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December.

Iran's Shiite clerical government became deeply involved in Syria's civil war early in the conflict, sending regular and proxy forces to defend Bashar al-Assad's rule.

Al-Shibani, speaking at the World Government Summit in Dubai earlier this week, stressed that while Syria has received “clear and positive messages” from both Iran and Russia, these messages need to be translated into “a clear policy that makes the Syrian people feel reassured.”

Iran and Russia, Assad’s main backers during the brutal conflict that began in 2011, played key roles in maintaining his grip on power until a rapid rebel offensive last December forced him into exile in Moscow. Since then, both countries have sought to maintain influence in Syria while navigating the new political landscape.

Europe has taken a clear stance in supporting Syria’s new leadership, with French President Emmanuel Macron pledging assistance in countering terrorism and preventing the return of Iranian-backed militias. “The priority is ensuring that Syria does not become a logistical platform for militias linked to Iran, which pursue a regional destabilization agenda,” Macron said at a recent conference in Paris attended by key regional and Western powers.

Iran, which invested heavily in Assad’s survival—reportedly spending at least $30-$50 billion—now faces the challenge of recalibrating its strategy. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has vowed on multiple occasions to reclaim Iran’s influence in Syria, adding further tension to an already complex situation.