Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said his regime has prevented Iranian weapons from crossing Syria and reaching Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Speaking in London, the former jihadist suggested that his regime had blocked the weapons flow from Iran to Hezbollah.
“No state would accept open borders and smuggling of weapons,” he said.
“We paid a price for the intervention of Hezbollah in Syria for 14 years. It participated effectively with the Syrian regime in killing the Syrian people; despite this, when we arrived at Damascus, we applied policies that do not harm the situation in Lebanon.
“We were keen that the conflict is not spilled over to Lebanon. But we want to protect our borders, and our duty is to prevent the smuggling of weapons and other things.”
During a visit to Chatham House in London on Tuesday, al-Sharaa confirmed that Syria would not join in the war against Iran, “unless we are subject to aggression, and we have no diplomatic solution.
“Unless Syria is targeted by any party, so we will remain outside any conflict. We had enough war; we paid a large bill. We are not ready for another war experience. Those who have been in war know the value of peace.”
He added: “We do not have official relations with Iran since the war. Syria may be targeted. This is a possibility. We do not want to start aggression on anyone.
“Unfortunately, today, things are not governed by wise minds. The situation is volatile,” he said.
“Iran participated and spearheaded the operation of the Syrian regime against the Syrian people,” he said, but added, “We do not have a problem with Iran.
“We have been patient with regard to the relationship with Iran. Of course, the ongoing war affects the region, negatively cutting off energy supplies to the international economy.
“Iran has a problem of trying to manufacture the ballistic missiles and the nuclear bomb, and trying to influence other countries. We recommend negotiations rather than military power, because it will lead to more dangers.”
Under the nom de guerre Abu Mohammad al-Julani, al-Sharaa led the Al-Nusra Front, the official affiliate of Al Qaeda in Syria.
Al-Nusra’s merger with several other Islamist militant groups established Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the movement which al-Sharaa now leads.
Speaking to Chatham House director Bronwen Maddox at the London think tank, the president outlined his regime’s domestic priorities.
“We are trying to support the Syrian economy, work or reconstruction, receive the refugees who are displaced from Syria, and then transform Syria into an economic location, utilising its strategic geopolitical location in the region. We want Syria to have ideal relationships with the entire region with Lebanon, Iraq, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and world powers, like the UK, France, Germany, and the US,” he said.
“Syria is qualified to start a strategic relationship network.”
Addressing tensions with Israel, he criticised Israeli military actions in Syria and suggested previous diplomacy had faltered. He said Syria had reached a “good point” with Israel via direct negotiations, “but then the Israelis changed their opinion last minute.”
Asked about Gaza, the president stressed Syria’s domestic focus. He said Syria has “suffered from the same things that the Gazan people suffered from.
“Syrian people empathise with the people of Gaza… But Syria now is concerned with reconstruction and building the damage that Syria was subjected to, which is similar or more than what was done in Gaza.
“All of us are wounded,” he went on.
Referring to the prolonged Syrian civil war, al-Sharaa said: “We suffer from losing more than 10 million people who left Syria, and we have the missing people whose numbers are close to 250,000.”
Earlier in the day, al-Sharaa met Sir Keir Starmer at Number 10.
The pair shook hands outside Downing Street ahead of talks which focused on expanding economic co-operation between the two countries.
A Downing Street spokesperson said: “This was an important moment for the UK-Syria relationship.
“On the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, they both affirmed the importance of avoiding further escalation and restoring stability in the region. They discussed the need for a viable plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, in the face of the severe economic impact of prolonged closure, and agreed to work with others to restore freedom of navigation.
The visit follows al-Sharaa’s stop in Berlin, where he attended a reception hosted by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
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