‘Times have changed’: Saudi Arabia-Syria rapprochement talks | Bashar al-Assad News

Saudi Arabia is close to reaching an agreement on diplomacy as usual with President Bashar al-Assad’s government, believing that Riyadh’s jockeys will play a major role in removing Iran’s presence from Syria, Al Jazeera said those familiar with the talks are well aware of.

According to a senior official in the Free Opposition Movement of the Syrian Opposition, he maintains close relations within the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Directorate General of Intelligence (GID), “The political mood of the Saudi house has changed, with many kings, especially Mohammad bin Salman [MBS] he wants to re-engage with Assad. ”

“The main position can be defined as ‘times have changed, the Arab Spring is history and the region is transitioning to a new future with new geopolitical features,'” the official said after the Syrian defense recently reconciled with Damascus in the summer of 2011.

Discussion with Al Jazeera a report In early May, Riyadh claimed to have sent an intelligence delegation led by GID Director-General Khalid Humaidan to Damascus to discuss possible detention between the former two enemies. Also in May, in Syria sent his prime ministerial delegation spent 10 years in Riyadh, led by Tourism Minister Rami Martini.

From the Syrian conflict the first days, Saudi Arabia was a key player in a war of delegates aimed at overthrowing al-Assad. Riyadh supplied a large number of local rebel groups with finance and weapons, including those made by the US anti-tank missiles, as part of the effort. However, the campaign failed after al-Assad’s main foreign patrons, Russia and Iran, stepped up more counter-interventions.

However, given the peculiarity of the fate of the characteristics of international relations in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia now sees the corridors of power in Damascus as a suitable way to protect the wider interests of its region.

“Iran’s tensions lower”

According to a Damascus official at the Syrian Foreign Ministry, he was informed of his recent talks with Riyadh: “MBS is working with Syria in an effort to calm tensions with the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

According to the official, “the MBS ordered its group to calm Syria down that it did not want any regime change against Bashar, and that Syria, as its brother is an Arab country, should naturally be close to Saudi Arabia.”

The official said that this was “also a clear sign” for the Iranian leadership that Riyadh “recognizes the difference in the war … [Iran] the one who has invested the most has won, and he will not try to question that reality ”.

The official, despite refusing to confirm it, mentioned the possibility of Iran’s presence at the Damascus meeting, “let’s just say that the Iranians were immediately very welcome with what they heard.”

The two sources spoke to Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity over sensitivity to the issue.

In May, Iraqi President Barham Salih confirmed reports since April, he said Saudi Arabia and Iran had held bilateral talks in Baghdad with a view to trying to ease tensions. It is believed that these discussions were largely, though not exclusively, aimed at resolving the war in Yemen, as the Royal Saudi Arabian Army has been campaigning against Houthi rebels lined up in Iran since mid-2015.

A Saudi Foreign Ministry official did not comment to Al Jazeera on whether the Damascus talks were aimed at improving relations with Iran, but said, “the time has come to accept that Syria, as it stands, is a part of the Arab landscape.”

However, while trying to cool tensions with Iran to avoid military conflict, Saudi Arabia’s effort to re-establish a decade-long search among Sunni Gulf monarchies in the Gulf to move Syria away from Tehran’s strategic orbit.

This is seen as more urgent as the tide of the Syrian civil war recedes and as Iran continues to reap the benefits of post-conflict intervention, establishing a profound and effective impact. base throughout the government-dependent areas, mainly as a wide network of parastatals Shiite militias and organizations.

According to a well-connected figure in the Movement of Officers, “Saudi officials made it clear [Syrian] The government wants to re-normalize relations, but before any aid to Syria in diplomatic matters, Assad must show signs of a commitment to reduce the influence of the Iranian hand in Damascus … He will be expelled by the Iranian militia and put an end to it. [Iran’s] and the exploitation of Syria by Hezbollah as a huge military base. “

However, while al-Assad had the political will to do so, it is doubtful whether he has the capacity to eradicate Iran’s vast network of militia representatives, as he needs his help to keep the remnants of his armed opponents at bay.

Syrian analyst Samir Altaqi recently he wrote, “The Syrian army is broken and weak … Assad is not there to replace or confront the pro-Iranian forces that are vital and deeply rooted in Syria.”

“Hidden political influence”

According to the official of the Free Officer Movement, it seems that for the time being, the Saudis have accepted this strategic reality and offered the Syrian government a compromise position with the Iranian presence.

“The Saudis recognize that the Iranians will continue to have a political influence in Damascus, just like in Baghdad, but they and the Basque Country [United Arab Emirates] Assad wants to put pressure on Iranians to at least reduce the accumulation of strategic military assets, as the basis for missile storage and production. ”

The Saudi-Syrian dialogue took place recently Meeting facilitated by Russia It was held between representatives of the Israeli and Syrian governments, where Iran’s military presence was also discussed.

Riyadh, according to a Syrian Foreign Ministry official, “sees the talks with the Israelis as a potential precedent for back-to-back talks with the US, especially at a time when the new Biden administration wants to leave the Middle East and may therefore accept the Syrian status quo.”

A Biden National Security Council official, however, threw cold water at the idea of ​​approaching the al-Assad government.

“The United States supports free and fair elections in Syria as required by UN Security Council Resolution 2254. We will not give legitimacy to the assassination of the Assad regime. Our allies in the region will do what they see in the interests of national security. , ”the U.S. official said, also considering anonymity.