Iran, U.S. rivalry in Syria
By Mostafa Moslehzadeh
Former Iranian envoy to Jordan
Iranian president is scheduled to visit Syria on Wednesday. The visit has two objectives. One aspect of the trip is the development of political, economic and cultural relations between Tehran and Damascus. But the most important aspect of the visit is the rivalry between Iran and the United States in the West Asia region.
International relations are currently at a turning point which would determine the future of the international system. In this framework, developments in two regions in the West Asia, especially the western part of it which includes Palestine, Lebanon and Syria as well as developments in Ukraine would determine the future of the international relations.
The U.S. position as a superpower has been challenged in these two regions. In the West Asia by Iran, and in Ukraine by Russia. In fact, half of the U.S. position as a superpower depends on its continued presence and dominance in the West Asian region and the other half of it depends on its victory over Russia in the Ukraine war.
Therefore, if Washington is forced to withdraw from the West Asian region, it means that it will lose the game to Iran and if Ukraine is defeated in its war with Russia, Washington will lose the game to Moscow too.
Therefore, the U.S. is doing its utmost to maintain Israel’s position as the region’s superpower. Over the past years, the U.S. has sought to split the regional countries such as Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Iran in order to achieve this goal. However, if the U.S. fails to accomplish its purpose, it will put its position in the West Asian region in danger.
Naturally, the process of Israel’s weakness has started a long time ago and recent internal problems in the regime have intensified it.
Syria is the frontline of the fight against Israel and it is important in what direction the rivalry between Iran and the U.S. in Syria will go.
Iran has four important strongholds on the frontline against Israel and the U.S., namely Syria, Lebanon, Gaza Strip and the West Bank, all four been strongly supported by the Islamic Republic in the past years.
Incidents in the West Asian region show that developments are taking place in favor of Iran and to the detriment of the U.S. For instance, a few years ago, Israel was so powerful that when its army in the morning had decided to enter the Lebanon’s territory, it would have entered Beirut in the evening. But now, the situation has changed and the Israeli regime has lost its strength. This is precisely an example of Iran’s power which has challenged the U.S. dominance in the West Asia.
Therefore, Raeisi’s trip and visits by Iranian and Syrian officials would heighten the competition between Tehran and Washington in the region.