Unlike in Iraq, Yemen, and Lebanon, where Iran relies on proxies, Syria’s regime is directly aligned with Tehran.
Iran is focused on propping up Syria’s regime so that it can continue to be a key part of Iran’s “resistance” axis. This takes on more weight as Israel fights Hezbollah in Lebanon and seeks to cut off Hezbollah from weapons that flow from Iran through Syria and from finances that help Hezbollah sustain itself.
Syrian state media said that more than thirty people were killed in Israeli strikes near Palmyra this week. These were Syrian regime members, as well as members of Iran’s “axis” in the region.
Ali Akbar Velayati, senior international affairs adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, highlighted Syria’s pivotal role in the resistance against “Zionist forces,” Iranian media reported on Thursday. Velayati made these comments during a meeting with Syria’s new foreign minister, Bassam Sabbagh, who is visiting Tehran this week.
The Iranians discussed the “growing strategic ties between Iran and Syria,” the report said. Velayati “stated that such cooperation has significant implications at both regional and international levels.”
Pillars of the region
Velayati went on to say that “Syria has played a critical role in the fight against the Zionists and stands as the principal link in the chain of resistance.” Syria is part of Iran’s growing power in the region, which includes ties with Iraqi militias, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen. This gives Iran an arc of allies across the region.
Syria is the jewel in the crown in many ways. Unlike in Iraq, Yemen, and Lebanon, where Iran has proxies, in Syria, the regime is close to Iran. Therefore, Syria serves as a nexus for trafficking weapons to Hezbollah and as a free zone to traffic drugs.
“The resistance front must be strengthened further. There is no path forward except through unity and resilience against common enemies,” Velayati said.
“Velayati also lauded Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s leadership, calling him a source of pride for the Syrian Arab Republic in confronting Zionist and US-led aggression,” Syrian state media reported.
The comments about Syria’s regime come amid reports that there are moves afoot to raise the prospect of reducing sanctions on Damascus in return for Syria preventing the smuggling of weapons to Hezbollah.
Russia is also heavily involved in Syria, and as such, there is an interplay between Iran and Russia in Damascus over which power has the most influence.
