Washington Post claims: Assad rejected a deal with the US to stop cooperation with Iran.
According to Russia Today, the Washington Post newspaper, citing former Syrian diplomat Bassam Barbandi, claimed that former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad did not accept the US proposal to stop cooperation with Iran before the fall of his government.
Continuing his claim, the Syrian diplomat told the American newspaper: The US, through mediators from the Emirates, proposed that US sanctions be gradually lifted in exchange for Damascus cutting off logistical support from Iran and preventing aid from being sent to Hezbollah through Syrian territory. But Assad rejected this proposal.
The newspaper also added that the US had made this proposal only a few weeks before the massive attack by Assad’s opposition forces.
The Washington Post announced that Assad also rejected Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s proposal to normalize relations between the two countries.
According to this proposal, Erdogan had asked for Assad’s cooperation in containing Kurdish groups and returning some Syrian refugees to their country.
The Washington Post concluded: These actions, especially the refusal to cooperate with Türkiye, have been described as important factors in exacerbating the Assad regime’s critical situation.
Continuing his claim, the Syrian diplomat told the American newspaper: The US, through mediators from the Emirates, proposed that US sanctions be gradually lifted in exchange for Damascus cutting off logistical support from Iran and preventing aid from being sent to Hezbollah through Syrian territory. But Assad rejected this proposal.