Iran and Russia Diverge on Syria

During a visit to Iran on Tuesday, Syria's deputy foreign minister spoke strongly against proposals for a transitional government that would lead to the removal of President Bashar al Assad. This is not a peculiar statement to come from a Syrian government official. What makes it interesting is that the statement was made in Iran and broadcasts a point of view that Tehran staunchly supports. Also on Tuesday, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari reaffirmed Iran's commitment to al Assad, explaining that Iran does not see any alternative to al Assad as a leader for Syria. Jafari said Russia might not entirely share this view. And in fact, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman has said that saving al Assad is not crucial....