Israeli Sources: Iranian Army Chief's Visit to Syria was Unsuccessful
Ami Rojkes Dombe
| 10/12/2017
http://parstoday.com/en/news/middle_east-i66247-iran%E2%80%99s_top_military_commander_visiting_syria_for_defense_talks
"Israeli sources reported that the October 2017 visit of the chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces to Syria was unsuccessful," according to a publication by the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center. "According to these reports, Syria refused to agree to the Iranian list of demands, which included leasing a naval base for 50 years, establishing air force bases and granting concessions for phosphate mining.
"Meanwhile, the vice president of Iran’s Chamber of Commerce announced that Syria is placing obstacles to the import of goods from Iran and prefers to import products from Turkey. These reports are possibly an indication to the challenges facing Iran when attempting to establish itself as a powerful player in Syria in the post-Islamic State era.
"Recently, several commentaries were published in Iranian media outlets that provide further evidence about the discord between Iran and Russia regarding Syria and the Iranian distrust of Russia’s intentions within the negotiations process concerning the end of the war.
"In Iraq too, Iran is acting to cement its influence in the era following the collapse of the Islamic State. Last week, the Secretary of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, met with the head of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq and warned against disbanding the Shi’ite militias in Iraq. Iran strives to maintain its influence in the political and security arena in Iraq by guaranteeing the independent status of the Shi'ite militias, some of which are supported by Iran, even after the disintegration of the Islamic State in Iraq.
"The Commander of the IRGC, Mohammad Ali Jafari, stated during a conference of commanders of the IRGC Basij forces, that the activity of about 100,000 fighters in the popular militias, which were established in recent years in Syria and Iraq in accordance with the Basij model, are a realization of the guidance of the leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Khomeini, to establish 'a global Islamic Basij.'
"These reports about Syrian regime reticence concerning Iran’s efforts to increase its military and economic clout in Syria, indicate, according to our assessment, the challenges facing Iran when attempting to establish itself as a powerful player in the Arab world. It should be mentioned that in Iraq too, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has adopted an independent line vis-à-vis Tehran and is pursuing a policy predicated on the desire to avoid becoming an 'Iranian puppet.'"
http://parstoday.com/en/news/middle_east-i66247-iran%E2%80%99s_top_military_commander_visiting_syria_for_defense_talks
"Israeli sources reported that the October 2017 visit of the chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces to Syria was unsuccessful," according to a publication by the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center. "According to these reports, Syria refused to agree to the Iranian list of demands, which included leasing a naval base for 50 years, establishing air force bases and granting concessions for phosphate mining.
"Meanwhile, the vice president of Iran’s Chamber of Commerce announced that Syria is placing obstacles to the import of goods from Iran and prefers to import products from Turkey. These reports are possibly an indication to the challenges facing Iran when attempting to establish itself as a powerful player in Syria in the post-Islamic State era.
"Recently, several commentaries were published in Iranian media outlets that provide further evidence about the discord between Iran and Russia regarding Syria and the Iranian distrust of Russia’s intentions within the negotiations process concerning the end of the war.
"In Iraq too, Iran is acting to cement its influence in the era following the collapse of the Islamic State. Last week, the Secretary of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, met with the head of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq and warned against disbanding the Shi’ite militias in Iraq. Iran strives to maintain its influence in the political and security arena in Iraq by guaranteeing the independent status of the Shi'ite militias, some of which are supported by Iran, even after the disintegration of the Islamic State in Iraq.
"The Commander of the IRGC, Mohammad Ali Jafari, stated during a conference of commanders of the IRGC Basij forces, that the activity of about 100,000 fighters in the popular militias, which were established in recent years in Syria and Iraq in accordance with the Basij model, are a realization of the guidance of the leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Khomeini, to establish 'a global Islamic Basij.'
"These reports about Syrian regime reticence concerning Iran’s efforts to increase its military and economic clout in Syria, indicate, according to our assessment, the challenges facing Iran when attempting to establish itself as a powerful player in the Arab world. It should be mentioned that in Iraq too, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has adopted an independent line vis-à-vis Tehran and is pursuing a policy predicated on the desire to avoid becoming an 'Iranian puppet.'"
