Iran welcomed efforts at reconciliation between the several Gulf States and Syria on Monday, calling the signs of growing Arab rapprochement with the Syrian government “a positive change”.
“The return of several countries to Syria and the opening of several embassies in Damascus are a positive change that we welcome,’’ Foreign Ministry spokesman, Bahram Ghassemi said.
The Arab world and international community have seen that Syria’s territorial integrity and legitimate government must be respected, he added.
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Nearly seven years after leaving the country, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have once again opened embassies in Syria.
After the Syrian conflict erupted in 2011, several Arab countries closed their embassies in Damascus to protest the oppression of opposition by the Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad.
The new developments give a reason to hope for an end to the years-long conflict, said Ghassemi.
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Iran will continue its “construction, cooperation and advisory role’’ as long as the Syrian Government wants, he said, according to the Tasnim news agency.
Tehran asserts that it has given only military advice to Syria in the fight against Islamic State.
It’s an open secret, however, that Iranian troops have also directly supported the Syrian army in fighting against the rebels.
Iran and Russia back the government of al-Assad in the conflict, while some rich Gulf countries support the rebels fighting him.
dpa/NAN
