The relationship between Iran and Damascus will not disappear overnight. There must be a new approach to the Syrian dossier



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Former US and UN official and former ambassador to Lebanon Jeffrey Feltman said: “Iran’s relations with Damascus today are deeper than before 2011, and they will not disappear overnight, so they must open many doors to address all issues. ” Revealing the Syrian dossier “is not a priority for US President Joe Biden, but it is part of other priority dossiers,” and he called for testing a new approach related to the Syrian dossier.

In an interview with the Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper, Feltman said: “Everyone knows my position on the presence of Iran and the presence of” Hezbollah “in Syria and Lebanon. My views on this are known. Our proposal is based on not discussing important issues and geopolitical issues or “the elephant in the room”, and the use of the land. But what we have presented is a proposal that addresses some of the problems related to the behavior of the regime and alleviates the suffering of the Syrian people. If the answer (from Damascus) is yes to that, this provides a gateway to discuss other issues. It should be. To be realistic. “

In addition, Feltman considered that US policy in Syria for the administrations of former presidents Donald Trump and Barack Obama “failed” to achieve tangible results in relation to Washington’s goals, with the exception of defeating ISIS, asking to try a new approach. based on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad taking concrete action. Specific, transparent and irreversible political reform “in exchange for Washington’s action, among other things, to reduce sanctions against Damascus.

He added that “the threat to the survival of the al-Assad government is no longer military, not because of the uprising, but because of the decline in the economic situation,” noting that “it is not realistic that the policy is based on (regime change ) short term. Yes, America’s policy must be based on intent. Encourage treatment of major policy and behavior problems for the regime. But I don’t think the Assad government is guaranteed in the long term. “

He believed that “the social, economic and structural challenges will create many problems that the Damascus regime cannot cope with, more than the Syrian uprising did. Iran, Hezbollah and Russia came to save the regime. Will they come to save it economically?” I do not think so.”

In response to a question about “rumors” that he will be the new US envoy to the Syrian dossier, he stated: “I am saying, frankly, that no one (from the government) has contacted me about that. I think I name a envoy for Syria is not a priority for the Biden administration. ” He continued: “But there are many questions: What is the mission? The authorities? The political support for the envoy? There are many questions, but no one has contacted me.” He indicated that the Syrian dossier is not a priority for Biden, but it is part of other priority dossiers such as Russia, Iran and support for allies in the region.

Source: Middle East



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