Syria Demands Iran Acknowledge Actions Against Syrians Before Ties Improve

DAMASCUS, Aug 21: Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said Friday that improving relations with Iran would require Tehran to first acknowledge what Damascus describes as its actions against the Syrian people, signaling that significant obstacles remain between the two countries. Speaking during an official visit to Pakistan, Shaibani welcomed Islamabad’s role in helping facilitate dialogue between Iran and the United States, but said Pakistan had not offered to mediate between Syria and Iran. His remarks come as Damascus weighs its future regional relationships following years of tensions with Tehran and its involvement in the Syrian conflict. Shaibani also addressed Syria’s relations with Israel, saying it was still too early to discuss any strategic agreement. He stressed that Damascus’ immediate priority was to stop Israeli attacks, indicating that security concerns remain ahead of any broader diplomatic arrangements.