Tehran: The Iranian Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson has issued a stern warning that the insecurity plaguing Syria will not be confined to the borders of the Arab nation, emphasizing that terrorism, if left unchecked, will spread to other regions.
According to National News Agency – Lebanon, during a press conference on Monday, spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei highlighted the ongoing discussions that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has been engaged in during his visits to Damascus and Ankara. Baqaei asserted, “We all have come to the conclusion that any sort of insecurity in Syria won’t be limited to Syria alone.” He further cautioned that terrorism is not contained to one location and can easily expand to neighboring areas.
Baqaei described Turkey as a significant actor in the region and noted that the Syrian foreign minister has clarified that Turkey is not responsible for the crisis’s genesis in Syria. He stated, “Our Turkish friends are as much concerned as we are about the course of developments in Sy
ria,” underscoring Turkey’s pivotal role in the Astana peace process. Baqaei praised Turkey for its “fruitful and constructive role” in reducing tensions in Syria.
The spokesperson emphasized the importance of the Astana format, calling it the “most durable and successful mechanism” for managing the Syrian crisis. He noted the efforts made by the three guarantor states-Iran, Turkey, and Russia-in containing tensions. Baqaei asserted, “The Astana process is still alive and the international community is mindful of its influence. We are still committed to that process and believe that the other effective countries hold the same view as well.”
Furthermore, Baqaei condemned the unlawful presence of US forces in Syria, labeling it a violation and one of the causes for the persistence of terrorism in the region. He remarked, “It is clear that one of the reasons for the sedimentation of terrorism in Syria has been the occupation (of Syria) by the American military forces.”
In recent developments, terrorist groups
in Syria have announced their push towards the northern city of Hama after swiftly taking control of nearby Aleppo in an offensive that began last week. This southern push comes on the fifth day of a surprise terrorist campaign, met by counterattacks from Syrian and Russian forces, who have reportedly been targeting opposition-controlled Idlib province and Aleppo with airstrikes since Saturday. In response, government forces under Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have been reinforcing positions in the northern province of Hama, where the Syrian army successfully repelled opposition fighters overnight.