Iran and Assad regime also consider difficulties over reconstruction

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The Defence Minister of Iran, an essential ally of the Assad regime, is in Damascus ahead of a possible pro-Assad offensive on the last major opposition area in Syria.

Gen. Amir Hatami arrived on Sunday for meetings with Bashar al-Assad and senior defense and military officials during a two-day visit.

No details were given by Syrian and Iranian State media. Hatami issued the template statement, “Not only the people of the region, but the people of the world are indebted to the battles that have taken place against terrorists in Syria,” telling Assad that he was hopeful that all of Syria will soon be “liberated” and displaced Syrians can return home.

The Assad regime has vowed to recapture the remaining opposition territory, including Idlib, western Aleppo, and northern Hama Provinces in northwest Syria. Iran has given general support to the aim in the past, but has been muted in recent week while Russia — the other key ally of the regime — and Turkey, which is alongside rebels in the northwest, have negotiated.

Twice in the last two weeks Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has met Turkish counterpart Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu to press the case for an offensive, breaking the “de-escalation zone” proclaimed by Russia, Turkey, and Iran last year. But Ankara has held out so far against Lavrov’s pretext of operations to remove “terrorists”, saying that ground and air attacks are not the way to pursue the objective.

See Syria Daily, August 25: Turkey Repeats to Russia — No Pro-Assad Assault on Idlib
Syria Daily, August 26: Russia Pushes Disinfo Over Chemical Attacks on Idlib

A photograph appears to show Hatami arriving with General Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s Quds Forces, the elite group which has been leading pro-Assad ground operations inside Syria.

Assad did not refer to the situation on Sunday, merely issuing the declaration, “Relations between the two countries are strong and stable.”

Hatami also met the regime’s Defense Minister Ali Abdullah Ayoub, telling a press conference, “The Islamic Republic has high capabilities in the area of defense and can help Syria in expanding their military equipment.”

The Assad regime and Iran are also facing the challenges of demands by the US and Israel for the removal of all Iranian military personnel and Iranian-led foreign militia from Syria, and of the massive injection of funds needed for reconstruction after more than $388 billion in damage during the 89-month conflict.

Visiting Moscow last week, US National Security Advisor John Bolton called for the Iranian withdrawal, but Russia made no apparent concession.

Meanwhile, with both Iran and Russia facing economic challenges, Russian officials — including President Vladimir Putin — have pushed other countries for provision of reconstruction funds; however, they have struggled to make headway, with the UN, France, and US all saying last week that there will be no program until there is confirmation of a political transition in Damascus.

See Syria Daily, August 23: Russia Pushes Back US Pressure Over Iran Withdrawal
Syria Daily, August 24: France Knocks Back Russia on Refugees and Reconstruction

Hatami offered the platitude to Assad, “The private sector of the Islamic Republic of Iran has good capabilities and capacities in this regard and can use them in the reconstruction of Syria.”