Agreement between Interim Govt., SDF; Iran protests dominate newspapers

Newspapers issued this morning highlighted the agreement announced by the head of the Syrian interim government with the SDF, in addition to the protests in Iran.

On the Syrian front, newspapers addressed the agreement announced by Ahmad al-Sharaa with the SDF. Al-Arab (London) said the agreement between al-Sharaa and the SDF is not the end of the road, but the beginning of a new path that could restore Syria’s unity and stability.

It explained that the agreement reminds us that Syria, with its ancient history and rich diversity, is capable of overcoming its crises if all parties participate in shaping its future, away from divisions and monopolization. Syria’s future, it said, will only be built by the hands of all its sons and daughters, in a state that belongs to everyone and is made by everyone.

Al-Akhbar noted in the same context that the settlement reached appears, in theory, to be the calmest and most balanced, the least bloody, and the most compatible with avoiding a project to divide Syria. It also opens the door to a new phase whose outcomes depend on the conduct of the transitional authorities and their ability to control their elements.

The newspaper added that, in practical terms, what occurred can be considered a direct implementation of Ankara’s wishes, without Washington abandoning the SDF, which is expected to be kept as a single bloc as a reliable force to combat ISIS.

Al-Khaleej likewise indicated that the map of North and East Syria has changed, along with the balance of power in the country. While it is still early to speak of a final configuration given the many and rapidly changing variables and unresolved files in the south and the coast, the US decision to support the Syrian authorities became clear in the battles involving the Syrian army and the SDF, signaling Washington’s stance on Syria and the region.

Iran protests: All roads lead to Washington

On the Iranian file, Asharq Al-Awsat wrote that the most dangerous aspect of the ongoing protests is their breaking of the regime’s taboos, especially with the rise of slogans challenging the concept of “Velayat-e Faqih” and the symbols of the revolution. This shifts the movement from opposing policies to questioning the legitimacy of the regime itself.

The newspaper noted that these developments come under the administration of Donald Trump, which does not act as a guardian of the international order but instead favors a policy of maximum pressure and breaking traditional rules. This keeps the Iranian scenario open to possibilities of direct or indirect intervention, or at least further escalation of the blockade. It concluded that the protests are not a passing event, but an indication that the era of rule by slogans is nearing its end, and that Iran, with its size, history, and diverse composition, cannot continue in permanent isolation from the world.

A-H

ANHA