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SPECIAL REPORT: Iran Views Turkey-Israel Syria Talks as Cover for "Occupation"

Iran has strongly criticized recent technical talks between Turkey and Israel regarding Syria, viewing them not as a genuine effort to reduce tensions but as a move to legitimize and coordinate the "illegal occupation" of Syrian territory by both nations, according to an analysis by Nournews, an outlet affiliated with Iran's Supreme National Security Council.

The Nournews report, titled "Negotiation in the Shadow of Occupation: What is Turkey and Israel's New Map in Syria?", highlights a meeting held in Baku, Azerbaijan, between Turkish and Israeli officials aimed ostensibly at preventing clashes within Syria. Occurring amidst major global events like the Gaza conflict and the war in Ukraine, Nournews suggests the timing seeks to downplay the meeting's strategic significance.

"While this meeting appears to have a constructive goal on the surface, its content reveals another bitter reality: the continuation of occupation under the guise of cooperation and coordination," Nournews stated.

The Iranian outlet dismisses the stated objective of de-escalation, arguing that both participants are fundamentally violating Syrian sovereignty. "Based on the principles of international law, the territorial integrity of countries must be respected. However, the two parties present at the Baku meeting, namely Turkey and the Zionist regime [Israel], are themselves the main violators of this principle in Syria," the report contends.

Nournews points out that Turkey has occupied parts of northern Syria for years under security pretexts, supporting armed groups against the Damascus government and refusing withdrawal despite Syrian demands. Simultaneously, Israel is accused of violating the 1974 disengagement agreement, conducting frequent airstrikes against Syrian military positions, and effectively occupying areas near Damascus while exploiting resources.

Therefore, Nournews argues, the talks are merely an attempt to "coordinate further along the path of occupation" rather than a step towards crisis resolution. "If Turkey was truly concerned about Syria's territorial integrity, it should first clarify the status of its military presence," the analysis asserts, noting Ankara's continued cooperation with groups formerly linked to extremist factions instead of supporting a unified Syrian state.

The report also refutes Israeli suggestions that the coordination models the deconfliction mechanism Israel has with Russia in Syria. Nournews stresses a fundamental difference: Russia's presence is at the official invitation of the Syrian government, whereas Israel's actions constitute clear violations of international law and Syrian sovereignty. Comparing the two, the outlet claims, is "merely a deception to justify the continuation of occupation."

Nournews casts suspicion on Azerbaijan's role as host, noting its lack of prior diplomatic involvement in the Syrian conflict and its failure to take a clear stance supporting Syria's territorial integrity. It suggests that Baku's choice points to "the instrumental use of Baku to manage a larger geopolitical project in the Caucasus and West Asia," using the Syria talks as a pretext for broader agendas.

Ultimately, Nournews concludes that the Baku meeting signals no strategic shift but rather a "division of tasks" and an effort to "stabilize the lines of occupation." "This meeting is less about reducing tensions and more an attempt to prevent clashes between two occupiers pursuing separate but coordinated interests," it states.

The only path to genuine stability in Syria, according to the Nournews analysis, is the complete withdrawal of all illegal foreign forces and full respect for Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Until then, such negotiations merely perpetuate the crisis and regional instability.

Photo: Nournews

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