Iran’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday that its embassy in Syria would reopen once the “necessary conditions” are met, after the diplomatic mission was vandalized following the ouster of Tehran ally Bashar al-Assad.
“The reopening of the embassy in Damascus requires preparations, the most important of which is ensuring the security and safety of the embassy and its staff,” said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei.
He added that work to that end will be pursued “as soon as the necessary conditions are provided,” without offering a specific timeline.
The Iranian embassy in Damascus was ransacked after diplomats abandoned it in the wake of the rapid advance of Islamist-led rebels opposed to Assad’s rule.
On December 8, the rebel forces took Damascus and ousted the longtime ruler.
Iran had supported Assad through Syria’s civil war, which began in 2011, sending “military advisers” at his request.
But since his fall, Iran has sought to distance itself from the deposed leader, instead stressing the history of friendship between the two countries.
