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Iran confirms receiving messages from new Syrian rulers
“The Islamic Republic of Iran is indirectly in contact with Damascus,” Tehran’s special envoy for Syrian affairs Mohammad Reza Raouf Sheibani was quoted as saying by IRNA.
The diplomat said Iran had “also received messages” from Syria, but did not specify the intermediary country facilitating the communication.
Sheibani was responding to a question about recent comments by Syria’s de facto foreign minister, Asaad al-Shibani, regarding communications with Iran. The Syrian foreign minister said on Wednesday that his country had received positive messages but wanted further reassurance from Russia and Iran.
“There are positive messages, but we want these positive messages to turn into a clear policy that makes the Syrian people feel reassured,” Shibani said at the World Government Summit 2025 in Dubai.
“Our view of the developments in Syria and the restoration of relations with Damascus is forward-looking,” Iranian official said, emphasizing that Iran was “thoughtfully” monitoring the situation there.
Iran, an ally of former government, evacuated its diplomatic mission in Syria in December when militants, led by current interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, overthrew Assad.
Sharaa said in December that Syria “cannot continue without relations with an important regional country like Iran”.
He added that ties between Damascus and Tehran “must be based on respect for the sovereignty of both countries and non-interference in the affairs of both countries”.
Sheibani, who previously served as Iran’s ambassador to Syria, reiterated Tehran’s position that the “future and destiny” of Syria must be determined by Syrians alone.
“Iran’s positions concerning the developments in Damascus are clear. Given Syria’s special position in the West Asia region, we believe that its future and fate must be decided by its own people with the involvement of all political currents,” Sheibani stated.
“The stability and peace of Syria are of particular importance to us, and we are against any foreign interference in the affairs of this country,” he said.
Sheibani also noted that he has discussed Syria with the Russian president’s special envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentiev and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin during a recent visit to Moscow.