Iran and the Syrian issue : from "Arab Spring" to Geneva II

Relations with Syria are at the core of the Iranian foreign policy in the Levant. At first, Teheran was quite pleased with the « Arab Spring » uprisings as they offer it new opportunities in the Middle-East. It then denounced the protest movement which affected Damascus. The interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran are such, in that country, that it decided to back Assad’s regime at any cost (politically, diplomatically, militarily, and economically).    

This choice, made during the 2011 protests against Assad, took a renewed importance as the country plunged into civil war. The politics adopted did not change when Hassan Rohani came to power.  Even though the situation between the international community and Iran is a bit less tensed and the Geneva intermediary agreement on nuclear weapons signed in November 2013 could eventually positively change the Iranian view on Syria, it is still difficult to find signs of such an evolution. With its multifaceted assistance, Teheran became the main support of Assad’s regime.  While the Iranian regime wields its influence in Syria, it makes sure at the same time that the international community takes its interests into account in the resolution of the Syrian crisis. 

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