Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has appointed Mohammad Reza Raouf Sheibani as his special envoy for Syria.
In the appointment letter, Araghchi described Sheibani as a distinguished and experienced diplomat at the Foreign Ministry.
“Syria is an important country in the West Asian region, and the Islamic Republic of Iran stresses the need to ‘protect the integrity of Syrian territory,'” Araghchi stated.
He also emphasized the importance of respecting the will of the Syrian people and their right to determine their own future without external interference.
“The decisions on the future of Syria belong to the Syrian people, and the Islamic Republic of Iran will regulate its relations with any system of governance that arises from the will of the Syrian people,” he added.
Araghchi further noted that stability and security in the region can only be achieved through cooperation and mutual understanding among regional countries.
He concluded by highlighting Raouf Sheibani’s responsibility to “consult” with all stakeholders, including “friendly countries of the region,” to fulfill the duties assigned to him.
Mohammad Reza Raouf Sheibani is a senior Iranian diplomat who served as Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon. Since 1979, Iran has maintained strong ties with Syria, which was ruled by the Assad family for more than 50 years.
During the Syrian civil war and the tensions following 2011, Tehran has been a key supporter of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, a relationship that continued until December 8, 2024.