Khamenei advisor: Assad’s fate a ‘red line’ for Iran

[Recursion]

Source: Al-Arabiya

A top advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader on Sunday said the future of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad could only be determined by the Syrian people and this was a “red line” for Tehran.

Assad’s fate is a sticking point in talks between world powers aimed at finding a political solution to the crisis in Syria. Iran and Russia want him to stay in power until elections are held, while Western and Arab powers say he must go.

“Bashar al-Assad is the Islamic Republic of Iran’s red line because he was elected president by the Syrian people,” said Ali Akbar Velayati, the top foreign policy advisor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“The Syrian people must decide their own fate, and nobody outside Syria’s borders can choose for the Syrian people,” he added.

Read more: http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/12/06/Khamenei-advisor-Assad-s-fate-a-red-line-for-Iran.html

[still_one]

1. That is a valid point, however, in order to insure fair elections you cannot rely on Assad for that.

You would need some independent international organization to insure it.

Reality also says that until the shooting stops, nothing can happen

[persuadable]

2. I agree

“The Syrian people must decide their own fate, and nobody outside Syria’s borders can choose for the Syrian people”. As in many countries, something must be set up to make sure they are fair elections. First a united front which includes Assad to defeat Isis, and then fair elections which includes Assad.

[Yupster]

4. My guess is the Supreme Leader would agree that the election in Syria must be fair

Fair being defined as all candidates must be approved by the existing government of Syria so God is not offended.

[still_one]

6. except that is not what I am defining, and if you read the context of what I wrote, that is why I

said an international independent source to assure a fair election.

The situation actually says that because of the factions involved in the fighting, it won't be happening anytime soon anyway

[Yupster]

7. No I would guess that

getting Assad, Hezbullah, Russia and the Supreme Leader of Iran to agree on an international independent source to ensure fair elections would be a longshot. I agree with you on that.

Just makes our diplomats look foolish when they say that's their plan.

[still_one]

8. It isn't going to happen for quite a while if ever

[saltpoint]

3. This guy -- Ali Akbar Velayati --

is establishing alignments for his government. I get that.

A case of drawing a red line in the sand. There's plenty of sand in the Middle East to draw lines in and sadly, plenty of blood to make the lines red.

World History, though, suggests that an exterior alignment may not preclude regime change -- through illness, political upheaval, economic calamity, natural disaster, or assassination.

Ancient Persia was notably skilled in seeking ways to destabilize the Greek City States. Mr. Velayati is standing on some of that same sand.

[leveymg]

5. To remove Assad now is to reward ISIS

The next step should be to remove IS bankers and arms suppliers. Then, and only once that has been carried out thoroughly, should we start the process of orderly succession of government in Syria with international safeguards for Syrian minorities.