US Representative for Syria: Our Aim is Not to Overthrow Assad but to Change Governance

James Jeffrey, the U.S. Representative for Syria, stated during a speech on December 17 that the United States is not seeking regime change in Syria but rather a change in governance and a reconciliation to resolve the crisis. In his speech and Q&A session at the Atlantic Council, Jeffrey emphasized that what the U.S. wants in Syria is a different form of government: "We do not mean for [Syria] to become a country on par with EU members, but it should not support terrorism, should not use chemical weapons against its own people or others, should not become a base for other countries with strategic intentions, specifically referring to Iran. It should not engage in torture. It must assist refugees to return voluntarily to their homes." He added, "If the [Syrian] government meets these basic needs during a political process, whether we like that [government] or not, we will coexist with it." Jeffrey also mentioned that despite some tensions, relative calm exists in Syria, and now is a suitable time to create space for a political process. Part of Jeffrey's remarks addressed the post-war situation and reconstruction of Syria, a topic previously mentioned by officials in Donald Trump's administration. For instance, Mike Pompeo, the U.S. Secretary of State, recently stated that Washington would not spend "a dollar" on reconstruction as long as Iran is present in Syria. Jeffrey referred to the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war and its aftermath, stating that the U.S. is no longer willing to fund the reconstruction of a country that Iran brings into conflict: "There is a strong reluctance among Western powers to provide assistance until the government compromises and does not move toward a new horrific situation." The U.S. Representative for Syria reiterated, "We do not seek a change of government [in Syria]. We do not ask Russia to leave Syria. We are looking for a reconciliation to resolve the [crisis]." Jeffrey emphasized that until a political process agreed upon by the international community is established in Syria, no assistance will be provided to that country. Previously, Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian President, had called for "active participation" from Iran and Russia in the reconstruction process. Tehran and Moscow are Assad's main supporters in the civil war. However, James Jeffrey stressed that Iran and Russia will not be able to undertake the reconstruction of Syria alone and that this can only be done with the help of the international community. Jeffrey stated that the presence of Iranian forces in Syria primarily concerns Israel but has also alarmed other countries, and the U.S. is deeply worried about this issue. According to the U.S. Representative for Syria, Washington sees no reason to ignore the presence of Iranian forces in Syria. He noted that the presence of Iranians only exacerbates the crisis and worsens conditions, which is why they must leave Syria. U.S. officials have repeatedly called for the withdrawal of Iranian forces from Syria. Tehran claims, "It does not allow any third party to interfere in the relations between Iran and Syria." Bloomberg reported in 2015 that Tehran spends about six billion dollars annually to support Assad's government, with this assistance sometimes reaching up to 15 billion dollars. Over the past years, while the Syrian civil war has continued, Iran has faced extensive sanctions that have plunged its economy into crisis, except during a period following the nuclear agreement in July 2015 until the Trump administration's exit from it. On the other hand, Iranian officials refer to countries like Syria as their "strategic depth."