Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the government of Bashar al-Assad was supposed to implement reforms and constitutional changes but "showed little flexibility and speed in this process."
"Everything was clear, and the analyses had predicted this event. Iranian and Syrian intelligence systems were fully aware of the movements in Idlib, and this information had been conveyed to the Syrian government. What was surprising, however, was the inability of the Syrian army and the unexpected speed of developments," Araghchi said in a televised interview on Sunday night.
"In a meeting we had with Bashar al-Assad, he himself was surprised by the army's performance. The Syrian army was affected by psychological and media operations rather than the real war," Araghchi added.
Asked about Iran's withdrawal of its forces from Syria, Araghchi said Tehran's "plan was not to engage with their internal opposition instead of the Syrian army."
"Our emphasis has always been on dialogue between the Syrian government and opposition groups," he noted.
Araghchi said that after Assad's fall, Tehran is now specifically concerned about Israelis taking advantage of the situation.
"We are monitoring the situation to ensure that the existing concerns do not come to fruition. These concerns include the possibility of a renewed internal and sectarian civil war between the tribes, the fragmentation of Syria, and, of course, the specific concern of the Islamic Republic, which is the potential exploitation by Israel, especially as movements have started since yesterday," he noted.
"It is important to issue a warning regarding these developments. Resistance groups in the region are closely monitoring and watching Israel's movements," he added.
Israel conducted three airstrikes in the Syrian capital on Sunday against a security complex and a government research center which it has said in the past was used by Iran to develop missiles, Reuters reported citing two regional security sources.
