Iran should devise a long-term strategy for economic involvement in Syria as it begins reconstruction, a senior political analyst said.
In a recent interview with the Iranian Diplomacy website, Sabah Zanganeh, an expert on Middle East affairs, added that concrete steps should also be taken to have closer collaboration on diplomatic, defense and security issues.
Zanganeh noted that Iran’s relations with Syria in various areas currently lack a “clear framework” due to eight years of civil war that has splintered the Arab country.
“Tehran should pursue a serious, long-term and coherent plan for economic presence and engagement in Syria,” he said, describing First Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri’s trip to Damascus as a positive step.
The governments of Syria and Iran, whose support has been vital to President Bashar al-Assad during the drawn-out conflict with foreign terrorists, recently agreed on steps that will allow bank transactions.
The deal was one of several concluded during a visit to the Syrian capital by Jahangiri in late January, which covered education, housing, public works, railroads, investment and other fields.
Zanganeh said this positive development should be complemented by visits from other high-ranking Iranian officials, including President Hassan Rouhani, in order to cement ties in all spheres.
“There is still a long way to go before the complete end of war and insecurity in Syria. So, in parallel with economic and trade efforts, Tehran should devise thorough plans in the military, security, political and diplomatic arenas for the coming years to help end the war and promote security in Syria and the Levant,” he said.
Growing Competition
Asked whether Iran should be concerned about competition from Arab states who are seeking to widen their role in postwar Syria and reap the financial dividends, the analyst said Tehran’s special status there cannot be undermined by any other country.
“Although some Arab countries such as the United Arab Emirates are seeking to re-exert their political, diplomatic and economic influence in Syria, Tehran’s status is clear for Damascus,” Zanganeh said.
“In other words, Tehran need not be worried about the presence and influence of or competition from Arab states under any circumstances.”
The UAE, which was one of several regional states to back armed groups opposed to Assad, reopened its embassy in Damascus in December, in a move interpreted by some political experts as being aimed at blunting Iran’s influence.
Zanganeh said closer and more effective coordination between the Iranian and Syrian governments is more important than ever, considering Arab efforts to drive a wedge between the two countries and US President Donald Trump’s decision to pull American troops out of the war-torn state.
“The White House plan to withdraw US military forces from Syria has brought about new requirements for this country, which can change the calculations of Russia, Turkey, Syrian Kurds, the country’s army and even actors such as Persian Gulf Arab states,” the expert said.
