Rouhani Says Democracy 'Not a Priority' in Syria
- 9 years ago
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday that democracy was currently "not a priority" in Syria, when people in the Islamic republic's key ally are being killed.
Iran is the Assad regime's staunchest backer, providing extensive financial and military support to Syria, including military advisers and special forces fighting alongside pro-government forces on the frontlines.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards' elite Qods Force has also played a vital role in raising, arming and training the pro-regime National Defense Forces militia, which supplements the badly-overstretched regular Syrian forces.
Since 2013, Sunni jihadists including Al Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State group have seized large swathes of land in Syria as well as in Iraq, Iran's other Shiite ally.
Iran is the Assad regime's staunchest backer, providing extensive financial and military support to Syria, including military advisers and special forces fighting alongside pro-government forces on the frontlines.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards' elite Qods Force has also played a vital role in raising, arming and training the pro-regime National Defense Forces militia, which supplements the badly-overstretched regular Syrian forces.
Since 2013, Sunni jihadists including Al Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State group have seized large swathes of land in Syria as well as in Iraq, Iran's other Shiite ally.