Strategic Council Online: Former Middle East Director-General of the IRI Foreign Ministry believes that after the recent drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, the authorities in Riyadh have concluded that the crisis is getting out of control.
Strategic Council Online: Under the current circumstances, the US will maintain a presence in Syria, in the form that it will relinquish less important regions either to Turkey or even indirectly to Russia or Damascus central government, but it will still keep sensitive centres like oil wells or strategic points that it thinks could cut off the communication lines between Iran and the Mediterranean under control.
Amir Ali Abolfateh – American Affairs Expert
The Strategic Council Online: Former Middle East Director-General at the IRI Ministry of Foreign Affairs said drafting the Syrian constitution is a very difficult process, adding that an understanding between international and regional powers could help this trend accomplish its goals otherwise each of these players has tools to disrupt the agreement.
Strategic Council Online: A Middle East Affairs expert says the US oil smuggling from northern Syria is state piracy. “The United States has long looked to the oil wells of Deir ez-Zur and al-Bukamal and is conducting a series of studies on this case.” Wells have been done and it has been concluded that there are huge oil and gas reserves in the eastern Euphrates and in Deir ez-Zur.
Strategic Council Online: A meeting between US delegation led by Vice President Mike Pence and Turkish officials in Ankara ended with the announcement of a 120-hour ceasefire in northern Syria. Following the talks, a joint 13-article statement was issued between Turkey and the United States, which, in addition to sparking harsh criticism by Trump’s opponents to its clauses, the Syrian presidential adviser described it “vague.”
Hamideh Safamanesh – International Relations Researcher
Strategic Council Online: An expert on regional issues said the agreement between Russia and Turkey on northern Syria was in the interest of all parties, adding: “If Russia can persuade armed Kurdish fighters to keep away from Turkish borders, which is very difficult to do, the reducing of the tension will continue.”
Strategic Council Online: Developments in Syria and measures taken by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to fill US military withdrawal from Syria over the past few weeks have further exposed the weakness and desperation of the European governments in pursuit of their political and security goals in the Middle East.
Morteza Makki – European Affairs Expert
Strategic Council Online: White House leaders have shown that US support for Saudi Arabia will continue as long as Saudi petrodollars flow into the pockets of US arms dealers.
Hamideh Safamanesh – International Relations Researcher
Strategic Council Online: An international relations professor said the current status of the elections and formation of the government reflects Netanyahu’s defeat. Under the current situation, all his concerns is to remain the prime minister and continue to enjoy political and judicial immunity to keep himself and his wife out of court.
Strategic Council Online: An expert on regional issues pointed out that opposition parties in the Turkish government, who account for more than 50% of the people’s vote, are definitely opposed to the government decision to invade northeast Syria. He said: On the social and grassroots level too, the invasion has many opponents.
Strategic Council Online: A Turkish affairs expert says Trump has given the green light to Turkey in invading Syria but President Erdogan must be aware that this is a trap by the US to undermine the Turkish economy, military and government in the interests of the Zionist regime.
Strategic Council Online: An expert on regional affairs said that the situation in Turkey is very fragile nowadays, noting that the United States has actually put Turkey into a wasp nest that would be very difficult for Ankara to get rid of.
Strategic Council Online: The more disorder and insecurity in Afghanistan, the more ISIS can recover and develop.
Abdolreza Farajirad – University Professor and Expert on Geopolitics
Strategic Council Online: A senior analyst on regional issues said that delaying the political process in Syria would be tantamount to extension and even escalation of the crisis in the country. “We hope the identity of the Syrian constitution will take shape based on the prevailing ideas and principles in the society, history, and culture of the people of this country, and this section would not be influenced by foreign and trans-regional forces.
Strategic Council Online: An expert on Turkish affairs said that criticisms by American statesmen of Turkey’s invasion of Syria are just verbal reactions, adding that in action there was in fact a relative harmony between US interests and Turkish concerns in that regard. By giving the green light to Turkey the United States has proven that it is still pursuing a policy of supporting terrorists, he said.
Strategic Council Online: The United States has announced its withdrawal from Syrian soil at a time that it gives the green light to Turkey to violate the national sovereignty of Syria and occupy 450 square kilometers at a depth of 30 kilometers.
Azam Gol Mohammadi – International Law Researcher
Strategic Council Online: The escalation of Washington’s strict policies against Iran and Turkey over the past year has made the two neighboring countries more resolute in further strengthening their relations.
Siamak Kakaie – Turkey Affairs Expert
Strategic Council Online: A university lecturer of international relations says the greatest achievement of colonialists in their efforts to intervene in other countries is the creation of instability. “Today, the United States and Israel want to get strong in the region and endeavour by fomenting secessionist sentiments in countries like Iraq, Syria and Yemen to pressure smaller nations and even bring them under their domination more easily.”
Strategic Council Online: An expert on regional issues said that the liberation of Khan Sheikhun shows that the Syrian government has the potential to liberate Idlib as well, stressing: “Turkey exercises double standards in this conflict. In terms of stance-taking, it is opposed to these forces but is associated with and supports the Takfiri forces.”
Strategic Council Online: An analyst on regional issues pointing to a new US-Turkish plan to create a safe zone in northern Syria said the turn by Turkey towards Iran and Russia is a source of security concern for the White House and the Europeans. Washington is trying, by giving renewed promises, to prevent further Turkish alliance with Iran and Russia and shift the region’s crisis management from Astana Process to Brussels and Washington.
