Moscow, taking a decision to go into discussions over Iranian presence in southern and southwestern Syria, announced on Wednesday an agreement being struck with Iran for its forces to withdraw to a distance of 85 km from from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
“As we took into account the Israeli concerns, we managed to attain the pullout of Iranian units 85 kilometers from the Israeli-(Syrian) border,” Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy to Syria Alexander Lavrentiev said.
Lavrentiev’s announcement comes a day after Russia’s ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov firmly declaring that the border area would be free of Iranian presence.
Moscow’s moves translate into it taking solid but incremental steps towards resolving debate over Russia's ability to place pressure on Iranian forces and successfully pull them out from some of Syria’s terrain.
Lavrentiev stressed that the agreement on Iranian forces retreating from former positions in the Syrian south comes under the auspices of Russian efforts and is both upholding and implemented.
Moscow has preserved a balance of relations with both sides (Iran and Israel), a well-informed Russian diplomat working on relations with Iran told Asharq Al-Awsat.
“Iran is an important partner of Russia in a number of issues, and we are not exerting pressure on any party, but we seek to reach understandings that meet the interests of all parties,” he added while speaking under the condition of anonymity.
The diplomat went on saying that it was Russian efforts which realized a notable compromise, despite the strong opposition they faced by Israel, which was demanding the exit of Iranian forces from all Syrian territory.
Elaborating on Israel’s desire for an Iranian full exit, the diplomat said that Moscow can’t and doesn’t wish to exert pressure to achieve such a demand.
“That the relationship with Iran in Syria is a partnership in the fight against terrorism,” he added.
On another note and stretching a good 375 km, the Syria-Jordan border crossing remains closed despite Syrian authorities claiming that it is clear for operations.
“The road to the Nassib border crossing with Jordan, closed since 2011 because of war, is now operational,” Syrian Transport Minister Ali Hamoud said.
However, Damascus received no request from Jordanian authorities so far on reopening the crossing, he added.
