Iran Urges U.S. to Withdraw from Syria, Reports Reuters

By Babak Dehghanpisheh

GENEVA (Reuters) – Senior Iranian officials articulated on Wednesday that Syria remains a key focus of their foreign policy and asserted that American troops should withdraw, in line with U.S. President Donald Trump’s plans.

Ali Akbar Velayati, a top advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was quoted as stating, "Whether they want to or not, the Americans must leave Syria."

Concerns have been raised in the West regarding Trump’s intention to withdraw around 2,000 troops from Syria, which could potentially enhance Iran’s influence, given its support for President Bashar al-Assad during the ongoing conflict that has persisted for nearly eight years. There are also worries that this withdrawal may enable Islamic State militants to regroup.

"Currently, 90 percent of Syrian territory is under the control of the government, and the remainder will soon be liberated by the Syrian army," Velayati noted during a meeting with Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem in Tehran.

President Hassan Rouhani emphasized to al-Moualem that achieving peace in Syria is of utmost importance. "One of the primary regional and foreign policy objectives of the Islamic Republic is ensuring the stability and complete security of Syria," he stated.

Rouhani added, "We aim to establish normal conditions in Syria, allowing the nation’s people to return to their regular lives."

Al-Moualem’s visit to Tehran was part of preparations for discussions among the leaders of Russia, Turkey, and Iran, scheduled for February 14 in the Russian coastal city of Sochi regarding the situation in Syria.

In a separate announcement, Rear-Admiral Mahmoud Mousavi, a deputy commander of Iran’s armed forces, indicated plans to extend the range of Iran’s land-to-sea missiles beyond 300 kilometers (186 miles). This statement was reported by local news outlets.

Iran has been enhancing its missile capabilities, particularly its ballistic missile program, despite objections from the United States and concerns expressed by European nations. Iranian officials assert that the missile program is solely for defensive purposes.

The European Union expressed significant concern earlier this week regarding Iran’s ballistic missile activities, urging Tehran to cease actions that increase mistrust and contribute to regional instability.