Velayati: Our Presence in Syria is at the Invitation of the Legal Government of the Country

Ali Akbar Velayati, advisor to Ayatollah Khamenei on international affairs, emphasized on Saturday, April 23, the Islamic Republic of Iran's support for Bashar al-Assad's government and his retention, stating that Iran's presence in Syria is at the invitation of the legal and legitimate government of the country. According to the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA), Mr. Velayati, during a meeting with Adnan Hassan, the Syrian ambassador to Iran, praised the years-long resistance of the Syrian people against what he referred to as terrorist groups and their supporters, asserting that the Islamic Republic supports Assad's government, which he claims was elected by the people, and that any plan contrary to Syria's national interests will not be endorsed by Iran. This is not the first time that Ali Akbar Velayati has spoken about the Islamic Republic's unwavering support for Bashar al-Assad. He had previously called Assad a red line for Iran and stated that Iran would not abandon Assad in the battlefield and politics. Just a few days prior to these remarks, during a trip to Damascus on November 29, he met with Bashar al-Assad and stated that Iran supports Assad personally and will continue this support under any circumstances. He mentioned that Bashar al-Assad is a source of pride and honor, and that Ayatollah Khamenei prays for Assad's victory. In March of last year, Mr. Velayati also referred to Iran's presence in Syria as being at the request of the legal and legitimate government of the country. This stance of Iran is also in line with comments from Russian officials who state that their military presence in Syria is within a 'legal framework' and based on a request from the 'legitimate president of Syria.' In this context, Bashar al-Assad, in an interview with the Russian news agency RIA Novosti published on April 1, stated that it is the right of any government to request assistance from other countries and that no one can take this right away from the Syrian government. The Islamic Republic currently claims to have an advisory presence in Syria, but Iran's support for the Alawite government of Syria dates back several years, which has faced criticism from Western countries and Arab states in the Persian Gulf as the conflict escalated. During the years of sanctions, Iran was not among the countries invited to the Syrian peace talks, but after the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was concluded, Iran was invited to these discussions and is now considered one of the supporting countries for Syria. However, any cooperation between Iran and the United States regarding the resolution of the Syrian crises has always been firmly rejected by Iran. In recent years, with the intensification of Iran's military presence in Syria, several Iranian military personnel, including Brigadier General Hossein Hamadani, have been killed in the conflicts. These casualties have been introduced in Iran as 'Defenders of the Shrine' and are buried with honors. In this regard, two other Iranian commandos were killed in the Syrian civil war, and four Iranian commandos have died in Syria. Estimates from De Mistura regarding the casualties of the Syrian civil war stand at 400,000. The White House has stated that the war in Syria will not end until Assad is gone. The changing battlefield of 'proxy wars' continues; the war against the people in the streets of Iran is ongoing. The first paragraph discusses the responsibility of the opposition and the potential radicalization of Iranian society. The last representative of Mossad in Tehran passed away amid the crisis in Iran. Trump hopes that further action regarding Iran will not be necessary; they were killing people without restraint. The shadow of war looms over Tehran; 'Trump is seeking decisive military options against Iran.' Trump emphasizes 'stopping executions in Iran'; we do not know what will happen in the future. Trump states that if the Islamic Republic attempts to assassinate him, 'it will be wiped off the face of the earth.'