Imam Khamenei Representative in Damascus: Syrian Revolution Artificial... For sake of ’’Israel’’

Al-Hosseini: US-’’Israeli’’ Axis Frustrated, Some Arabs Move by US Gestures

Ali Abdallah


A year on the Syrian crisis, masks were uncovered and bets have fallen.
Parallel to military decisiveness on the ground, Syria's diplomatic circles seem at ease as the allies remain keen on facing all Western and US pressure with firmness.


And on the top of the strategic loyal allies was the revolutionary Iran that clearly announced: the global conspiracy against Syria is to be destroyed with people's awareness and leadership's path of reform.
And this is what the Syrian scene reflects.


In an interview with al-Intiqad website, the Representative of Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Imam Khamenei in Syria, Ayatollah Sayyed Mojtaba al-Hosseini responded to some of the raised questions on the Syrian crisis:

What's the Iranian view to what the region is generally witnessing, particularly Syria?

Since the eruption of the Islamic Revolution, Syria stood with Iran and relations were and are still intimate and excellent between the two countries at both political and economic levels.

The Western countries have created this crisis in Syria because of its position with the Islamic Republic of Iran, support for Hizbullah, and standing with the Palestinian cause.

Since long ago, Syria did not give up its positions neither in the era of late President Hafez al-Assad nor in the era of current President Bashar al-Assad.

After the toppling of the tyrants of Tunisia and Egypt, "Israel" fainted and got frightened because of the absence of the iron wall, upon which it used to rely.

Trying to assure "Israel", they wanted to earn a victory paper to propose it to the world, especially after the series of "Israeli" defeats whether in July war against Lebanon or the war in Gaza. Similarly, US suffered a number of defeats at the political level parallel to its humiliating defeat in Iraq in which it was obliged to withdraw without any gains.

There is a sort of frustration that is haunting America, Western countries, and "Israel". Therefore, they took the advantage of the Islamic awakening in the Arab countries to rise on behalf of awakening a revolution in Syria.

Abusing the sectarian and religious diversity, they created what Imam Khamenei and President Ahmadinejad described as an artificial unreal revolution.

Therefore, I consider that what is happening in Syria is an artificial revolutionary movement in favor of "Israel", US, and the West.

They exploited the Islamic awakening occurring in the world, while the standards of revolution are based on two considerations: first, a mass opinion and not just small part of the public and second confronting arrogance.

However, in the so-called "Syrian Revolution", we do not see them fighting US and "Israel". On the contrary, we see that many of the raised slogans are against Iran and Hizbullah that is one of the best parties in terms of political and military integrity.

Hizbullah never sought to stir up sectarian strife. Despite all Western attempts to drag it into a civil war; the Islamic resistance kept directing its arms towards "Israel".

Iran acknowledged what Arab countries such as Tunisia, Yemen, Bahrain, and Egypt are experiencing as an Islamic revolution, but some wonder about the reason for the absence of this consideration regarding what is happening in Syria?!

Egypt was suffering a state of humiliation and defeat in face of America and "Israel". It was a US-"Israeli" state in which freedoms were absent.

In contrast, Syria is defined as the state steadfastness in face of "Israel". It stood with the mother of revolutions in the world, the Islamic revolution in Iran.

While the toppled former regime built a wall of iron in face of Palestine, i.e. Rafah, and thus increasing pressure on Palestinians in sake of "Israel", Syria was supporting the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights.

We believe that what happened in Tunisia has spread with its peaceful nature to the entire region. The scene was similar in Egypt, but the situation is different in Syria. At the beginning of the events, Western countries played on sectarian side by targeting the homes of Alawis, Shiites and other sects. If they want to fight America and "Israel", their rhetoric must be against "Israel".
However, their slogans and attitudes reveal their intentions as being armed groups.

On what bases do you build your position against the Syrian opposition?

Our position is based on two things:

First, whether the opposition deserves to be an opposition or not without ignoring the fact that people both at home and abroad have the right to declare their opinion without causing strife in the country.

Second, whether they are right or wrong, and this depends on their demands and the means of showing them as well as their affiliations: if they serve US or "Israel".

However, the Syrian opposition both at home and abroad is not united and as the Holy Quran has said "Ye think of them as a whole whereas their hearts are divers."

Many of them seek coveted positions, money and worldly things. I do not think that the Syrian opposition is one and we should look at the result of their work and affiliations. If their track led to inciting sectarian strife in Syria, the destabilization of the situation, carrying arms in face of people and intimidating them, this is absolutely unacceptable.

States have different positions towards the Syrian crisis. Arab States such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar openly call for arming the opposition, while Russia is trying to find a political way out of the crisis through the recent initiative ...How do you estimate these calls?

We are not surprised by the Arab states positions towards Syria, especially that of Qatar and Saudi Arabia, because we previously know that such countries do not have an independent will. They move according to US gestures. What KSA is doing is not limited only to Syria. Many of the sectarian temptations in Pakistan have their major threads in Saudi Arabia that funds much of its money on sectarian strife.

Moreover, Taliban is the financial infant of KSA and the positions' infant of the US.
And who made al-Qaeda? Its attitudes are derived from of KSA.

On the other side, we welcome the Russian position that is well aware with its Chinese partner that US is trying to turn the world into one pole. US simply wants to expand its control and dominate the world.

Tendentious media promoted that there are Iranian elements helping the Syrian government in suppressing the protests, how do you respond?

I think that this propaganda is designed to kill two birds with one stone: Syria and Iran. They seek to direct discourse towards Iran. However, with its strong army and people, Syria does not need Iran or any other side.

What is the nature of the Iranian support provided to Syria?

Iranian support for Syria is based on old relations in the economic and political fields. This is the case for Iran's political relations with other countries in East and West.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad held a series of reforms and most recently was the new constitution, but some doubted these reforms and the seriousness of applying them on the ground, what do you think?

Reform is the prophets' approach and the steps that Syria took reflect reality.

Turning the presidency to two terms is aimed at seeking reform and the Syrian people must cooperate in following this track. However, if they weren't convinced with the implementation of these reforms, they can express their constitutional right of objecting and expressing opinion peacefully.

In addition, it must be noted that reforms cannot be applied in a single night, they need time, but some want to sabotage so they won't be applied.

They believe that applying reforms would withdraw the quilt of strife they are working on from beneath their legs.

A strong reformed Syria is in the interests of Arabs and Muslims, and its weakening is an interest of "Israel "and the enemies. Nevertheless, we are with reform and granting greater freedoms in Presidential and Parliamentary elections as mentioned in the new Syrian constitution.

Syria is subjected to a systematic media war ... How do you estimate this media war?

Some media outlets revealed the mask from their faces confirming their biasness and we are observing what "al-Jazeera" and "al-Arabia" are broadcasting with respect to Syria, Bahrain, or Saudi Arabia. There are double standards and variation in their positions.

I think that a lot of young people who hold prior positions are to be affected by these channels. At this level, the Syrian channels must focus on educating and informing people. There also must neutral channels that broadcast actual facts without interfering.

I do not regret much on Gulf States' channels which wills are stolen.

Is the Islamic Republic playing a role in what is happening in the Arab world from Awakening?

I think that everyone who reads history knows very well that the Islamic revolution of Iran was unprecedented by a similar revolution in the world. It remained 100 % peaceful with its massive millions popularity. This blessed revolution defeated the most powerful force in the Middle East, the Shah who is a US and Western ally.

What characterized this revolution is that once it survived it kept no trace for US and also drew a harsh slap on the face of Western nations. Once it was victorious, the Iranian revolution took over the spy den (US Embassy). Since the triumph of the revolution, Imam Khomeini declared that "we want to export the revolution."

Some have claimed that export means an armed attack and colonizing countries, but Imam Khomeini explained that the Islamic based revolution is an application to the Divine verse: "We sent thee not save as a mercy for the peoples."

With respect to the ruling of Islamic movements as Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and Tunisia ... Do you consider them as a return to Islam?

I do not own an accurate reading for the Islamic movements to judge them as good or not, but I say that the Muslim Brotherhood has a nice title.

I think that they are not characterized by one style as some of them are extremists and others are moderates. And I reassure that our interest is in people not in parties. We do not support the view that the Awakening movements are based on certain political parties. The Islamic awakening must be based on the general public who has no interest except in their homeland. Imam Khomeini had a constant emphasis on public affairs and the general public and that's why the Iranian elections are free.

Source: al-Intiqad, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org

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