MESOP SYRIA / IRAN UPDATE: Tehran Hails Syria’s Aleppo as “Defeat for US & Allies”

18 Dec 2016 – Alaeddin Boroujerdi, the head of Parliament’s National Security Committee, declared on Saturday, “The victory of Aleppo was a very important event. In fact, the US and its allies both in Europe and the region faced a defeat once again.” He proclaimed that, despite economic sanctions, the Assad regime had won in Aleppo “through unity between the nation, government, and army”.

After months of siege and heavy bombing, foreign forces — including Iranian commanders and troops, Hezbollah fighters, and Iranian-led Iraqi and Afghan militias as well as some Syrian Army, paramilitary, and militia units — have taken almost all of the opposition areas of Aleppo, divided since July 2012.

In the past week, Iran has twice undermined agreements, brokered by Russia and Turkey, for the removal of the estimated 50,000 civilians and thousands of rebels still in eastern Aleppo city.Tehran has objected to the arrangements, brokered by Russia and Turkey, because they do not include a provision for the removal of wounded from two Assad regime enclaves in opposition-held Idlib Province.

As discussions on Saturday tried to revive the deal, Iranian State media indicated that Tehran might continue to block implementation.

Press TV, describing a phone call between Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan and his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu, said:

The two ministers emphasized that the Syrian town of Fu’ah and the village of Kefraya, which are besieged by the terrorists, must be liberated at the earliest.

Dehghan and Shoigu also called for a firm and all-out battle against Takfiri terrorists in Syria until the full establishment of security in the war-stricken country.

Iran has provided essential military, political, and economic support to prop up the Assad regime since the beginning of the Syrian uprising in March 2011. www.mesop.de