Iran maneuvers to protect its interests in Syria - Al-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Hamidreza Azizi

Hamidreza Azizi

Jul 26, 2018

GettyImages-996920282-(11).jpg — Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with Ali Akbar Velayati, foreign policy adviser to Iran's supreme leader, during a meeting at the Novo-Ogarevo residence, outside Moscow, Russia, July 12, 2018. — ALEXEI DRUZHININ/AFP/Getty Images

A Syrian boy holds the Iranian flag as a truck carrying aid provided by Iran arrives in the eastern city of Deir Ezzor on September 20, 2017 while Syrian government forces continue to press forward with Russian air cover in the offensive against Islamic State group jihadists across the province.
Two separate offensives are under way against the jihadists in the area -- one by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, the other by Russian-backed government forces. The Syrian army now controls around 70 percent

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Kurdish fighters from the People's Protection Units (YPG) chat with members of U.S. forces in the town of Darbasiya next to the Turkish border, Syria April 29, 2017. Picture taken April 29, 2017. REUTERS/Rodi Said - RC16BE0EE700

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Representatives of the Syria regime and rebel groups along with other attendees take part in the session of Syria peace talks in Astana on October 31, 2017.
Russia, Turkey and Iran pledged in Kazakhstan on October 31, 2017 to bring the Syrian regime and its opponents together for a "congress" to help nudge peace efforts towards a more lasting political settlement. / AFP PHOTO / Stanislav FILIPPOV (Photo credit should read STANISLAV FILIPPOV/AFP/Getty Images)

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