In the late 1970s, Syria refrained from signing the peace treaty with Israel. Henry Kissinger, the architect of the Camp David Accords of 1978, did his utmost to gain the support of Syria for the peace deal between the Arabs and Israel, but despite his efforts, he failed. And thus, the big conspiracy failed due to the Syrian resistance, and the country’s stance continues to have the same effect on all the plots devised by the United States and Israel in the region.
Since the victory of Iran’s Islamic Revolution in 1979, the Western powers’ main agenda in the region has been to topple the Syrian government in order to protect Israel. And the pressure currently being imposed on Syria is another move in line with this old policy.
Meanwhile, Russia is gearing up to play a more influential role in the Middle East by protecting Syria. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Russians disengaged from the Middle East and North Africa region. But the fall of the Libyan government after the relentless NATO onslaught rang alarm bells for the Russians and made them realize that they should keep a closer eye on developments in the region.
Moreover, supporting Syria can also boost the popularity of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who is the favorite in the upcoming presidential election. Putin wants to bring back Russia’s glory days as a global superpower to get more votes.
Russia has always made big deals at critical historical junctures. However, this time the cost of signing such a deal with Moscow is much higher than the U.S. and its allies had expected.
The Islamic Republic of Iran, as a close ally of Syria that is known for its revolutionary policies, can mediate between the Syrian government and the sides trusted by Damascus, such as the Muslim Brotherhood and Turkey. This can pave the way for a swift resolution of the dispute with the least economic and human costs. Tehran can effectively facilitate a transition back to a normal situation in Syria.
If this path is not taken, the mistrust between the Syrian government and the opposition could lead to more bloodshed in the country.
Hossein Sheikholeslam formerly served as Iran’s ambassador to Syria. He is currently the parliament speaker’s advisor on international issues.
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