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Iran maneuvers around gaps to preserve interests in Syria

The West’s new activism on Syria is pushing Iran to adapt its approach, though its bottom line remains the same.
Syrians wave Iranian, Russian and Syrian flags during a protest against U.S.-led air strikes in Damascus,Syria April 14,2018.REUTERS/ Omar Sanadiki     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC1815671B90

President Donald Trump’s May 8 decision to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) has caused international debate on Iran to be mostly focused on the implications of the US move — including the future of the nuclear deal. Yet given the recent and ongoing developments in Syria amid Iran’s active involvement there, the potential of the Syrian crisis to determine the future of Iran’s role in the region remains largely unaffected. Nonetheless, as Western states endeavor to redefine their role on the Syrian stage, Iran has felt the need to adapt its approach to the new equations. 

One important development in this regard that could directly affect Iran’s role and interests in Syria is a clear shift in the European approach from playing a mostly political and diplomatic role toward military and operational activism on the ground.

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