Syrian Opposition Accuses Iran of ‘Discreet Hindrance’ of Geneva Talks

 A general view shows the fifth round of Syria peace talks in Astana on July 5/AFP
A general view shows the fifth round of Syria peace talks in Astana on July 5/AFP
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Syrian Opposition Accuses Iran of ‘Discreet Hindrance’ of Geneva Talks

 A general view shows the fifth round of Syria peace talks in Astana on July 5/AFP
A general view shows the fifth round of Syria peace talks in Astana on July 5/AFP

The Syrian opposition accuses Iran of secretly hindering holding talks and reaching a political solution in Syria -- the opposition didn’t acquit Russia but it saw that the goals of Russia and Iran at this stage are different.

While Iran’s ideological approach seeks remaining in Syria, Moscow is in a quest to end the crisis before the presidential elections.

HNC Spokesman Yahya Aridi said: “We don’t need to see the turban (in a hint on Iranian officials) to be certain that there is an Iranian meddling and a hindering of the solution. We affirm that if the decision was in Tehran’s hand, then the regime delegation wouldn’t have returned to Geneva after it left to Damascus for a week. Though its return was of no benefit.”

Aridi declared to Asharq Al-Awsat that the disputes between Russia and Iran appear in the military and political negotiations.

Lebanese Researcher Dr. Bahaa Abou Kroum differentiated between the Russian and Iranian aspiration.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that Russia reached a phase of spiritual sufficiency that allows it to move to the political phase in Syria. But this is not the case regarding Iran, added Abou Kroum, as it seeks resting in Syria and is in its favor that the crisis continues.

To Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Syrian opposition delegation member Khaled al-Mahamid said that “Our problem is not with the regime but with Iran – it is the one that determines the path of political negotiation and it is the one that frustrated the last round of Geneva talks.”

He added, “Iran doesn’t want a political solution but the continuity of military escalation to ensure remaining in Syria since it knows well that even among the pro-regime it has no audience or popularity."



Israeli Forces and Drones Fire on Hundreds of Palestinians Waiting for Aid

Palestinians carry the body of a man killed a day earlier while attempting to get aid at a distribution point near the Israeli-controlled Zikim border crossing, during a funeral procession at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on June 23, 2025. (Photo by Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP)
Palestinians carry the body of a man killed a day earlier while attempting to get aid at a distribution point near the Israeli-controlled Zikim border crossing, during a funeral procession at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on June 23, 2025. (Photo by Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP)
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Israeli Forces and Drones Fire on Hundreds of Palestinians Waiting for Aid

Palestinians carry the body of a man killed a day earlier while attempting to get aid at a distribution point near the Israeli-controlled Zikim border crossing, during a funeral procession at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on June 23, 2025. (Photo by Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP)
Palestinians carry the body of a man killed a day earlier while attempting to get aid at a distribution point near the Israeli-controlled Zikim border crossing, during a funeral procession at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on June 23, 2025. (Photo by Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP)

Israeli forces and drones opened fire toward hundreds of Palestinians waiting for aid trucks in central Gaza early Tuesday, killing at least 25 people, Palestinian witnesses and hospitals said.

The Israeli military did not immediately comment.

The Awda hospital in the urban Nuseirat refugee camp, which received the victims, said the Palestinians were waiting for the trucks on the Salah al-Din Road south of Wadi Gaza.

Witnesses told The Associated Press that Israeli forces opened fire as people were advancing eastward to be close to the approaching trucks.