Syria’s top diplomat, Foreign Minister Faisal Mikdad, asserted that normalization with Turkey cannot be on the table while Ankara maintains its military presence in northern Syria. He stated that any thaw in ties hinges on the removal of what Damascus describes as an ongoing occupation, a point he emphasized during a press briefing following discussions with Iran’s foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. The message underscored a conditional path forward: security and sovereignty concerns must be addressed before any broader diplomatic re-engagement could be contemplated.
In the same exchanges, Mikdad referenced a possible channel for future talks by noting that discussions of deeper cooperation or normalization would depend on the easing of substantive disputes between the two countries. He highlighted that the strategic and political landscape in the region would need to shift in a way that removes the premises of current disagreements, allowing for constructive dialogue at the highest levels. The remark came as part of a broader conversation about regional stability and the role of dialogue in resolving long-standing tensions.
Iran’s foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, appeared receptive to the idea of formal talks between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad should conditions allow. Mikdad elaborated that any such conversations would be feasible once the core conflicts or grievances fueling discord are addressed, signaling a potential recalibration of Moscow, Tehran, and Ankara’s approach to Syria. This stance reflects a broader regional pattern where Tehran positions itself as a mediator in conversations involving Damascus and Ankara, while seeking to align different actors toward a common framework for stability.
The conflict context in northern Syria remains intertwined with the Kurdish question, a thread that has long shaped Turkish security policy and regional dynamics. Ankara has cited security concerns tied to Kurdish armed groups operating in northern Syria and adjacent areas in Turkey, arguing that unsanctioned or autonomous factions pose ongoing threats to Turkish sovereignty and border security. Damascus has consistently framed any Turkish presence as an occupation, arguing that foreign military activities undermine Syria’s territorial integrity and complicate the prospects for a unified political solution. The tension underscores the fragility of the Syrian conflict’s borders and the complex mosaic of actors pursuing diverging visions for the country’s future.
With regional leadership voices weighing in on the possibilities and limits of reconciliation, observers noted that any immediate change in the ground situation would influence the tempo of diplomacy. A former Turkish official has been quoted as raising questions about when and how Turkey might advance its military operations in Syria, a topic that signals ongoing strategic calculations on both sides. In this environment, what matters most is a credible path toward de-escalation, confidence-building measures, and a framework that could sustain negotiations across multiple levels of government and security institutions. The conversations reflect a broader quest for stabilizing the region while addressing the core concerns of all involved parties, including the humanitarian and governance dimensions that accompany long-standing conflicts.