PHOTO: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, December 20, 2016


Iran has welcomed the national ceasefire in Syria, brokered by Turkey and Russia, which began at midnight on Thursday.

Iranian State media said Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif conveyed the acceptance in a phone call to Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, hours before the truce took effect.

See Syria Daily: A National Ceasefire?

Along with Russia, Tehran is the essential backer of the Assad regime. Earlier this month, it twice undermined Russian-Turkish arrangements for removals of civilians and rebels from eastern Aleppo city. However, after a summit with both Russia and Turkey in Moscow on December 20, it acceded to the terms, and the re-occupation by pro-Assad forces of Aleppo paved the way for yesterday’s announcement.

On Tuesday, Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan used an interview with Russia’s RT to point to Iran’s new line:

If Iran, Russia, and Syria were to reach an agreement with Turkey to end Turkish support for…terrorist groups, particularly IS [the Islamic State] and Jabhat al-Nusra, and start fighting them, then I think we would see the situation in Syria improve.

We shouldn’t let [the] Islamic State or Al-Nusra groups take part in the ceasefire. All other groups should start a political process and negotiations with the Syrian government.

The Syrian opposition said Thursday that ISIS is excluded from the truce. It is unclear if the jihadists of Jabhat al-Nusra, now known as Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, are also excluded, but rebel sources said the truce covers all frontlines, even if JFS is present.

Dehghan did point to a possible point of dispute with Iran’s ally Russia, saying that Saudi Arabia should not participate in next month’s political talks — proposed by Moscow and Ankara — between the Assad regime and the Syrian opposition. The Defense Minister said, “[Saudi Arabia] is seeking to topple the existing regime [in Syria]. No talks should be allowed with those who are eager to do [so].”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday that the Saudis will be invited to attend, along with other Arab States, the US, and the UN.