Iran's Acknowledged Presence in Syria: From Permeation to Imposition


Iran made a significant statement about its presence in Syria that has been almost overlooked by the media and analysts. Its significance wasn't highlighted despite it can be considered as a key development in this regard.

 
In general, we got used to the Iranian threatening rhetoric of retaliation after been hit by usually Israeli and occasionally US air strikes, but this is the first time Iran acknowledges its military 'bases' and their existence in Syria. The Iranian security spokesman was clear in using the term 'bases' in his threatening statement. This is an Iranian precedent to my knowledge. Iran usually talks about its advisors in Syria who assist the Syrian 'legitimate government' in its 'war against terrorism' and never indicated its possession of military bases or 'Iranian-linked' military bases throughout the entire duration of the war in Syria.

 
In my opinion, this is definitely not a statement to neglect or miss. Iran is deliberately announcing and exposing this key military fact, and is intentionally leveraging the acknowledgement of its military presence and role in Syria from the advisors level to a fully fledged military level that is related to military bases. This move of leverage is to replicate itself at the level of Iran's regional and international relations.


When some regional or international power uncovers and acknowledges a fact concerning its assets, power or influence, this means that it intends to take advantage of them and to benefit of them in some way or another. Thus, Iran intends a change in the current status quo. It publicly enters the arena of key players in the Syrian conflict and Syrian geography. This intended 'change' may take various and multiple kinds and goals starting from obtaining the international recognition of Iranian role and interests in Syria to the range of negotiating the scope and limits of these role and interests with othe players, or even may reach the goal of seeking to settle the Syrian situation in a desired way or according to the Iranian interests. All of this wide range is currently within Iranian reach, and we need to observe the developments and future Iranian measures to find out Iran's goals and intentions.

 
The bottom line of this development and the concurrent other developments is that many of the key players in the Syrian conflict are preparing the scene for a prospective settlement while waiting for the results of the Turkish elections next month.

 
Stay tuned with the exciting developments with my Twitter, Middle East Policy Blog, and NeoInternationalism. 

 

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