New Syrian leadership urges Iran to drop its hostility

Syria’s new government seeks no discord with Iran but demands that it not undermine Damascus, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani told Al Jazeera on Wednesday.

“Iran is a neighboring country, and we do not wish to eliminate them, but we hope they reconsider their position and actions toward the Syrian people,” al-Shaibani said in an interview published Wednesday. He added that if Syria receives a positive response, it will “reciprocate and act accordingly.”

On the same day, Iranian Supreme Leader's special envoy Ali Larijani said on state TV that Iran’s relationship with Syria’s ruling faction depends on their actions.

“If their behavior is rational, we will have no issues with them,” he said. Larijani also expressed hope that Syria becomes a "democratic Islamic country capable of defending itself against Israel."

At the same time, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei defended Iran's role in Syria’s civil war and its broader regional power projection. He dismissed criticism of Iran’s declining influence in the Middle East.

In December, the Bashar al-Assad government, a key pillar of Iran’s influence in the region, fell despite 13 years of Iranian military support.

Since the Syrian Civil War began in 2011, Iran invested heavily in keeping Assad in power, viewing his government as critical for maintaining access to Hezbollah and asserting power in the Levant. Assad’s fall disrupted these efforts, cutting Iran’s land route to Lebanon and weakening its ability to arm Hezbollah.

During a Wednesday ceremony marking the fifth anniversary of the death of Qasem Soleimani, Khamenei appeared to predict a revolt that would topple Syria's leaders.

“Do not be deceived by this false show; those who are strutting around today will one day be trampled under the feet of the faithful," Khamenei said. "Those who have encroached on the land of the Syrian people will one day be forced to retreat in the face of the power of Syria's youth.”