Bashar al-Assad's Meeting with Ali Khamenei in Tehran

Bashar al-Assad, the President of Syria, visited Tehran on Monday, March 6, and met separately with Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, and Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran. This visit marks the first time since the protests began in 2011 and the subsequent civil war in Syria that al-Assad has traveled to Iran. The office of the Supreme Leader stated on its website that the meeting took place on Monday morning, although news of the meeting was published later that afternoon. Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was also present during both meetings. In the meeting, Khamenei referred to the strategic depth between Iran and Syria, stating that the identity and power of the resistance movement depend on this continuous and strategic relationship, asserting that enemies will not be able to implement their plans. He also told al-Assad that he has become a 'hero of the Arab world' and that 'resistance in the region has gained more power and dignity' through him. Iranian officials refer to al-Assad and armed Palestinian and Lebanese groups as part of the 'resistance front against Israel.' However, some critics of the Islamic Republic argue that Iran's intervention in Syria and the suppression of peaceful protests against al-Assad's government have empowered armed groups and led to military conflict in the country. Khamenei also described the proposal to create a 'buffer zone' in Syria as one of America's 'dangerous conspiracies' and stated that it must be firmly rejected and opposed. Turkey has called for the establishment of a buffer zone in northern Syria with logistical support from the U.S. and its allies, aiming to clear these areas of Syrian Kurdish forces, which Ankara considers terrorists. U.S. President Donald Trump has also urged the Kurds not to 'provoke' Turkey and mentioned that a '20-mile (30-kilometer) buffer zone' will be established. According to reports, al-Assad expressed gratitude for the 'unwavering support' of the Islamic Republic for his government during the meeting. Al-Assad's visit to Tehran comes amid recent Israeli attacks on dozens of Iranian bases and facilities in Syria, with Israel repeatedly stating that it will not allow the Islamic Republic to establish a military presence in Syria. Meanwhile, Ali Shamkhani, the Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, has threatened that Iran's response to Israeli attacks in Syria in 2019 will be 'very different from past responses.' In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that his country will take action 'as necessary' to prevent the military entrenchment of Iran in Syria. Russian officials have repeatedly mentioned the withdrawal of Iranian forces from Syria, but Iranian officials have denied these claims. Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Iranian Parliament, acknowledged coordination between Israel and Russia on January 24. Al-Assad also met with Hassan Rouhani in Tehran, where Rouhani stated that Iran is ready to participate in the reconstruction process of Syria and will stand by Damascus in the process of stability, the return of refugees, and internal political processes. Over the years, Iran has provided significant financial assistance to Syria, including the establishment of two credit lines of $1 billion and $3.6 billion for exporting goods to the country. Previously, Yahya Rahim Safavi, a military advisor to the Supreme Leader, stated that Iran should recover the costs incurred in Syria through 'oil, gas, and phosphate mines' in the country. Many Arab countries that have had tense relations with Syria over the past eight years have recently reopened their embassies in Damascus, emphasizing their search for economic opportunities during Syria's reconstruction, which has greatly concerned Iran. Several Iranian officials have recently expressed dissatisfaction, either implicitly or explicitly, that Syria is handing profitable projects to other countries, including Russia, while the Iranian private sector gains minimal benefits from Syria's reconstruction. Iran's intervention in Syria and support for al-Assad have also faced widespread criticism within Iran. Some participants in the protests last December in over a hundred cities in Iran chanted, 'Leave Syria, think about us.' Farmers in Isfahan have recently repeated this slogan in protests against severe water shortages in the province. Some political activists in Iran have harshly criticized the actions of Qassem Soleimani and the Quds Force, attributing the emergence of ISIS to Soleimani's mismanagement. Morteza Khazaeli, a political critic, stated in a video that if Soleimani had not been present in Syria, 'there would be no ISIS in Syria now.' The civil war in Syria has left hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced since 2011.