Iraq mediates between Damascus, Tehran amid ‘strategic chill’ in relations
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Iraq has stepped up diplomatic efforts to mediate between Syria and Iran after relations between the two long-time allies soured following the ouster of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, political sources told The New Region on Sunday.
The sources said Baghdad is working quietly to rebuild bridges between Damascus and Tehran in what observers describe as an attempt to overcome a “strategic chill” that has unsettled the regional balance since the rise of Syria’s new government.
Officials in Baghdad reportedly hope to leverage Iraq’s geographic proximity and its strong ties with Iran to facilitate a new understanding between the two governments, whose once-aligned interests have recently diverged.
The New Region – an American website based in Erbil – cited political and intelligence sources as saying that Iraqi delegations—including officials from the intelligence service and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs—have made several unannounced visits to Damascus in recent months.
During these meetings, they held discussions with senior Syrian officials aimed at reopening communication channels with Tehran.
The talks reportedly followed Syrian-Russian consultations that exposed growing differences between Damascus and Tehran over Iran’s future military and economic presence in Syria.
Iran, facing heightened domestic pressures and weakened regional influence after the “Twelve-Day War” with Israel in mid-2025, has requested Iraq’s mediation to reestablish dialogue with the new Syrian leadership, the sources said.
One individual familiar with the matter noted that “Baghdad is playing a dual role. It provides Tehran with assessments of Damascus’ position while offering the Syrian government proposals to reduce direct Iranian involvement in exchange for gradual economic and security cooperation.”
Syria and Iran have been close allies since the early 1980s, when Damascus supported Tehran during the Iran–Iraq War. Their partnership deepened during the Syrian conflict, with Iran providing extensive military, financial, and logistical support to the Assad government.
Tehran’s backing, through the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and affiliated militias, helped Damascus regain control over large parts of the country.
However, relations have cooled in recent months following political changes in Damascus and shifting regional dynamics. The new Syrian leadership has sought to rebalance its foreign policy, strengthening ties with Russia and Arab states while reducing its dependence on Tehran.
The outcome of the 2025 “Twelve-Day War” between Iran and Israel further weakened Iran’s regional posture, prompting efforts to maintain its foothold in Syria through diplomacy rather than direct intervention.