Iranian officials meet with Syrian opposition

The Telegraph ^ | 11/14/2011 | Richard Spencer

[bruinbirdman]

Iranian officials have held talks with Syrian opposition leaders, in a dramatic sign of the growing isolation of the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

Nancy Pelosi conducts "personal" foreign policy

Several separate opposition sources have told The Daily Telegraph that Iran opened a channel to a "moderate" opposition group about a month ago.

Officials met Haytham Manna and other members of a group known as the National Coordinating Body for Democratic Change, or the National Coordinating Committee.

The group is strongly opposed to foreign intervention in Syria, and is likely to be seen as more acceptable to Iran than the largest group, the Syrian National Council, which has argued for "international protection" for civilians.

"Iran used Haytham Manna to prepare for an opposition conference," one opposition journalist said. But he said the attempt failed as "no one trusted Iran".

Iran's leaders have backed President Assad, its key regional ally, against the protesters in the face of criticism from some of their own followers.

Syrian opposition figures claimed early in the uprising that members of the Iranian Al-Quds force, part of the Revolutionary Guard, were working with the Syrian army to put down demonstrations.

But even President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has shown signs of becoming frustrated with Mr Assad. In August he called for the Syrian government to sit down with the opposition; by last month he was directly demanding Mr Assad implement reform.

Iran has a lot to lose if Mr Assad falls. Damascus is home to the headquarters of Iran's two main militant clients in the Arab world, Hamas and Hizbollah, and provides both a route for supplying them and diplomatic cover.

Mr Manna did not reply to requests for comment, but the Iranians were most likely trying to mould the wider views on Israel

[Rudder]

Et tu, Ahmadinejad?

[gleeaikin]

Here is the Iran/Syria rebels article I just mentioned

[AU72]

Looks like Iran is about to throw the eye doctor under the camel.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks bruinbirdman. Scratch Lebanon (the part not occupied by Iranian jihadist proxies that is), Turkey, Iraq (the part not occupied by Iranian jihadist proxies that is), and of course Israel...

Jordan’s Hashemite king is Assad’s last chance.

Heh...

The Russians will step in, pronto.

No, seriously, watch, it will happen.