Opposition official: Iran should play no part in Syria de-escalation zones

JEDDDAH: A key Syrian opposition official has said that Iran is part of the problem rather than the solution for the war-torn country, and should have no role in the newly implemented “de-escalation” zones.
Fighting between the Syrian opposition and regime forces eased on Saturday as a Russian-led effort to shore up a cease-fire took effect, although battles continued on important frontlines near Hama and Damascus, opposition fighters and a war monitor said.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said there had been a reduction in fighting across Syria since the deal came into force, but warned it was too early to say whether it would last.
The deal to create “de-escalation” zones in the major areas of conflict in western Syria took effect at midnight. The initiative was proposed by Russia, the Syrian regime’s most powerful ally, with the support of Turkey, which backs the opposition. Iran, Assad’s other major ally, also backed it.
“The de-escalation zones should cover the Syrian territories in their entirety, and not selective areas where the Assad regime can enjoy peace,” Yahya Al-Aridi, a political adviser to the Syrian High Negotiations Committee (HNC), told Arab News on Saturday.
“The Syrian regime, which has killed hundreds of thousands of innocent citizens, displaced and made refugees of several million people, and left hundreds of thousands maimed, will never be accepted as part of any political settlement to the Syrian crisis.”
Iran and Turkey agreed to the Russian proposal for de-escalation zones on Thursday. The text of the memorandum was published by the Russian Foreign Ministry on Saturday.
The agreement said four de-escalation zones would be established in Syria for a period of six months, which could be extended if the three signatory countries agreed. Weaponry and airstrikes were not to be used in those zones by combatants, the text said.
The agreement also included creating conditions for humanitarian access, medical assistance and the return of displaced civilians to their homes.
Al-Aridi did, however, underline his rejection of any Iranian involvement.
“While we express our full commitment to the political process to end the Syrian crisis, we absolutely reject any role played by the Iranians, who are part of the problem and not the solution. Iran has been murdering the Syrian people and instigating sedition and sectarianism, and there is no guarantee that they will act as a guarantor,” he said.
“Can the wolf be entrusted with the sheep’s safety? Iran committed war crimes and must be held accountable as such for its murderous behavior in Syrian lands. The Assad regime would not have survived thus far if it had not been for the Iranians. Since Iran intervened in the Syrian crisis, years ago, it has worked on changing the demographic composition of the Syrian population in Syrian territories as part of its expansionist ideology that aims to spread the Shiite ideology outside the Iranian borders,” Al-Aridi added.