Iran official warns Saudi Arabia, Qatar over Syria involvement

Saudi Arabia and Qatar will become victims of terrorism because of their support for the opposition groups in Syria, an Iranian official said in an exclusive interview with the German magazine Der Spiegel on 11 August, while denying that Iranian support for Syria's government had worsened the conflict.

“You cannot say that the situation in Syria today is a result of Iran’s support for [Syrian President] Bashar al-Assad, " said Deputy Iranian Foreign Minister for Arab and African affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian.

"The only support provided by Iran to Syria has been in the form of military advisers to the Syrian army to help it defend itself against terrorist attacks. This does not mean we are against the opposition in Syria,” Abdollahian said referring to the Nusra Front and the Islamic State (IS) militants.

The Iranian diplomat believes what is happening in Syria is a complex plan to recreate the regional map, with the support of Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

He said that ultimately both countries will suffer because of their support for “terrorist groups” and will themselves become targets of terrorism after the groups complete their work in Syria. 

According to Der Spiegel, Abdollahian accused IS of committing crimes and mass killings against civilians in Syria and said that the organisation receives support from several intelligence agencies. A correlation exists between IS and the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, also said.

Analysts say that Iranian interference in Syria has revolved around protecting the Damascus government, since it sees it as an important Arab ally through which it maintains its geopolitical influence over Iraq and the region.  

"The last three years have seen a dramatic increase in Iranian involvement and influence in the country,” said Iran expert Mahan Abedin.

Several leaders in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRG) admit to an Iranian military intervention in Syria with several IRG members killed or captured by militant groups in Syria, Arabi21 reported. 

“[Iran’s Syria] engagement comes with a hefty financial, political and even human cost, as evidenced by the dozens of Iranian combatants who have been killed on Syrian battlefields,” says Abedin.