Iranian regime’s role in Syria is questioned

A former member of the Iranian regime’s parliament has questioned the role of the Iranian regime in Syria. Yadollah Eslami asked if keeping Assad in power should come at the price of destructing a whole country.

 In an article on the National Council of Resistance of Iran’s (NCRI) website, it is reported that Yadollah Eslami wrote on his twitter account: “What is going on in Syria? Why the Syrian people should have such a fate? What’s the good of the widespread killing, displacement and homelessness of the Syrian people?”

He also questioned the role of Russia, asking “what role will Iran-Russia alliance have in the future of Iran and the region? What impact will Russian bombardments in Syria have on the way the Syrian people look at Iran?”

The Iranian regime’s investment in the war in Syria is also noted. He highlights that Iran has provided huge support – not just financially, but also with manpower and resources. He also questions whether it will be easy for Iran to get out of the “Syrian vortex”. He adds that “the consequences of (Iran’s) presence in Syria will not be as simple as some say. Frenzies will fade away and wise questions will take their place. Then it will be time for answering!”

Another person who has spoken publicly about the subject is Mehdi Khazali, the son of cleric Abolqassem Khazali (a former officials of the regime). The NCRI have said that he spoke about the role of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) commanders and the terrorist Quds Force, mentioning that all policies are “at the stake and hostage of Iranian Revolutionary Guards”.

He said: “In Syria, the people revolted and the Arab spring has arrived behind the walls of Bashar al-Assad’s palace, but the Qods Force officials proudly say that Bashar al-Assad had no more than ten thousand troops and we kept him (in power); against whom? The Syrian people! This is wrong; (that’s how) the people of Syria became our enemy.”

Khazali added that deep hatred against the regime is being created.

He once said: “If it wasn’t for the actions of Qassem Soleimani, Daesh (ISIS) would not emerge in Syria … Eight-year war (with Iraq) was not enough, now we have been fighting in Syria for five years.”

Regime and IRGC officials responded with the following: “Mehdi Khazali has a vehement stance against Qassem Soleimani and introduces him as the main culprit for the war in Syria and the rise of Daesh (ISIS). He considers Khomeini and Khamenei and the IRGC responsible for all the problems of the country and the region. It is not surprising to hear such words from such a person!”