Assad: Iran, US Proximity To Affect Syrian Developments Positively

Tehran, Sept 30, IRNA – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad welcomed recent diplomatic developments in ties between Iran and the United States, saying the “rapprochement” can have a “positive” impact on various issues, incluring Syrian developments. “If the Americans are, let’s say, honest about this rapprochement, I think the results will be positive regarding the different issues, not just the Syrian crisis,” Assad said in an interview with Italy’s Rai News 24 on Sunday. The Syrian leader further said, “For the Iranians to move closer to the Americans is not just a naiive move, it’s a well-studied step that’s based on the experience of the Iranians with the United States since the (Islamic) Revolution in 1979.” On September 27, Iran President Hassan Rouhani and his US counterpart, Barack Obama, had a landmark phone conversation mainly focusing on Iran’s nuclear energy program. Rouhani said the White House had contacted Irans permanent envoy to the UN as he was about to head to the airport to return home from a visit to New York where he attended the 68th annual session of the United Nations General Assembly. It was the first direct communication between an Iranian and a US president since the victory of Iran’s Islamic Revolution more than three decades ago. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem also said in a Saturday interview with the Associated Press that the developments in Tehran-Washington ties are not a threat to Damascus. “We are happy about this rapprochement,” said Muallem, adding, “This will have a positive impact on the American view of the region.” Iran has repeatedly voiced its opposition to any foreign interference in Syria’s internal affairs, calling for inclusive dialog and national reconciliation as well as free elections as the keys to the settlement of the crisis which has been gripping the country since March 2011./end