Syrian opposition groups that toppled the al-Assad regime “set the Iranian project in the region back by 40 years,” Ahmad al-Sharaa, head of the new government, said in an interview published Friday.
Speaking to pan-Arab publication Asharq al-Awsat, the opposition leader, also known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, stressed that Syria would no longer be used to “attack or destabilize” any country in the Arab or Gulf region.
“Syria had become a platform for Iran to control key Arab capitals, spread wars, and destabilize the Gulf with drugs like Captagon,” he said.
“By removing Iranian militias and closing Syria to Iranian influence, we’ve served the region’s interests—achieving what diplomacy and external pressure could not, with minimal losses.”
Speaking from the presidential palace, al-Sharaa also criticized efforts made to restore ties with ousted President Bashar al-Assad, including having him rejoin the Arab League “in exchange for concessions.”
He added that the opposition was “confident this would fail because we knew the regime would not make any genuine concessions or approach these overtures in good faith.”
The Syrian figure also claimed that the regime had once said during a meeting with Jordanian officials that they would not stop exporting Captagon to Jordan, “unless sanctions were lifted.”
New focus
During the interview, al-Sharaa gave reassurance that Syria would become a “haven for controversial individuals,” adding that the focus is now on building the state after the revolution had ended with the fall of al-Assad.
“We are now focused on state-building. The revolution ended with the regime’s fall, and we will not allow it to spread elsewhere. Syria will not be a platform to threaten or unsettle any Arab or Gulf country,” he was quoted as saying.
Al-Sharaa also stressed that Syria now seeks to reestablish ties with Arab nations.
“Syria is tired of wars and being used for others’ agendas. We want to restore trust and rebuild our country as part of the Arab world.”
Syria-Lebanon relations after al-Assad
When asked about Syria’s relationship with Lebanon after the fall of al-Assad, al-Sharaa offered reassurance that opposition groups are not looking for “dominance over Lebanon,” adding that there’s enough work to do in Syria itself.
“We are not seeking any form of dominance over Lebanon,” he said. “We want a relationship based on mutual respect and exchange, without interfering in Lebanon’s internal affairs. We have enough work to do in our own country.”
Moving on to a new constitution for Syria and a national dialogue conference, al-Sharaa acknowledged the difference in opinions on the ground but emphasized not wanting to impose his own personal views on the people.
“I believe in letting legal experts shape the relationship between citizens, with the law as the guide,” he said. “Syria is diverse, and it’s natural for there to be different opinions. This difference is healthy.”
Crimes under al-Assad regime
While opposition forces have freed thousands of prisoners from Syrian prisons and detention centers controlled by the al-Assad regime, al-Sharaa stressed the need to hold those who committed crimes against the Syrian people accountable. He also said the focus should be on justice rather than revenge.
“We fought a brutal group that committed crimes like arrests, forced disappearances, killings, displacement, starvation, chemical attacks, and torture,” he said.
“Their names are known, and they must be pursued,” he said. He also affirmed that families have the right to file complaints against unknown perpetrators.
Al-Sharaa also revealed that a new ministry would be set up to help families of missing people track the fate of their loved ones.
“This is a big task, but we must find the truth,” he said.
Al Arabiya
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