Israeli infantry soldiers of the Golani brigade take part in exercises during their deployment in the Israeli annexed Golan Heights, near the border with Syria, on 6 May 2013. (Photo: AFP - Menahem Kahana)
Following Israel’s attack on Damascus this past weekend, Tehran affirmed its full support for Syria. Tehran recognizes the core of the equation: the Israeli attack was on Syria, but the real target was Iran and Hezbollah.This is the gist of the message from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, relayed by his special envoy Ali Akbar Salehi to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Salehi informed Assad, on Khamenei’s behalf, of “a message of solidarity and full and unlimited support from Iran, politically, militarily, and economically, to the Syrian leadership and people, against the takfiris, terrorists, Israel, the US, and all who dare attack this country.”
Informed Iranian sources described the letter as “conforming” with the latest statements of Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah. “It is a direct letter from [Khamenei] to President Assad,” the source explained. “And it comes following the recent Israeli aggression on Damascus.”
A Warning to the Jordanian Throne
“You must be aware that if the US decides to go to war with Syria, your kingdom will go in the process,” the message declared. It warned the Jordanian king of the “American trap that threatens your throne and will wipe Jordan off the map.”
“The Islamic Republic is ready to provide you what you need in face of pressures and to avoid the conflict being transferred inside Jordan,” the message relayed. It concluded by maintaining “Iran’s willingness to transfer Jordan to our camp, if you had the will to do so.”
Jordanian sources knowledgeable of the visit said Salehi’s message came directly from Supreme Leader Khamenei personally, indicating that it was “resolute but polite.”
The sources, who are close to the Jordanian royal court, explained that “the king was friendly and listened to the Iranian message. He assured Salehi that Jordan will not be interfering in Syria.” The meeting with Jordanian Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour was “routine and discussed economic cooperation, where they agreed to hold a meeting for the Jordanian Iranian Higher Council.”
The meeting with Jordanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Judeh, on the other hand, “was not polite,” the sources explained. “His words were hostile and he brought up the question of Bahrain and the Iranian dispute with the UAE.”
The sources indicated that “this is the first time Iran has presented a serious offer to help, formally, and within protocol. Past offers had been for show only.”
The Orders Are Ready
Informed Iranian sources maintained that the reply to the Israeli attack will be on two levels. The first will be“blows under the belt in several locations.” This could be inside Syria under the policy of “contain, squeeze, and crush,” or outside, but “without upsetting the terror balance.”
In this context, the sources revealed that Tehran “received a message from the US and Russia that the Israeli attack was in isolation and there is no intent to declare war on Syria.”
The sources maintained that the Sunday attack on Syria was part of “an attempt to enter Damascus and cause mayhem before the meeting between US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow. But the attempted coup was aborted.”
According to the sources, the second possible reply will be preparations for a Syrian meeting in Tehran. The Syrian regime will be represented by ministers Ali Haidar and Qadri Jamil, indicating that the visit of Iranian deputy foreign minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian to Syria falls within this framework.
“Preparations are also underway to hold an international meeting for the friends of the Syrian people in Tehran in around two weeks,” the sources revealed. “More than 40 countries will be invited and the Islamic Republic will use it to announce a new initiative for a Syrian solution.”
The participating countries will include the UAE, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, central Asian republics, India, Malaysia, and Pakistan.
Perhaps one of the two most notable statements to come out of Tehran in the past few days was the announcement of Iranian deputy defense minister Hossein Salami that Iran expanded its national security sphere to the eastern coasts of the Mediterranean.
The second was Iranian Minister of Defense Ahmed Vahidi’s announcement that Iran is ready to train the Syrian army.
This article is an edited translation from the Arabic Edition.