Panorama of week: Legacy of Baathist regime, Tehran-Washington Negotiations

Arab newspapers published over the past week covered a range of interconnected Syrian, Iranian and regional issues, focusing on security, weapons and efforts to address the legacy of the Baathist regime, alongside the Israeli presence in southern Syria and the course of negotiations between Tehran and Washington amid continued escalation.

Syria: Security, Weapons and Addressing the Legacy of the Baathist Regime

On the Syrian file, Asharq Al-Awsat highlighted the situation of detainees transferred from Syria to Iraq, noting that the issue has returned to the forefront following the Syrian justice minister’s visit to Baghdad.

The newspaper considered the detainee issue intertwined with highly sensitive security files, foremost among them the fight against ISIS, reflecting the continued security interdependence between the two countries during Syria’s transitional phase.

Meanwhile, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed examined the issue of weapons outside state institutions as one of the key issues linked to the future of the transitional phase.

The newspaper described the proliferation of weapons as a “negative phenomenon” created by years of war, the militarization of the revolution and the fragmentation of state institutions. At the same time, it highlighted another view pointing to a decline in the phenomenon of uncontrolled weapons and the gradual process of placing weapons under state control.

Southern Syria and Israel

Syria also featured in analyses of the Israeli military presence in the region, amid continued Israeli statements about remaining in areas that Tel Aviv describes as strategically important for security inside Syria, Lebanon and Gaza. Arab coverage suggested that the continuation of this presence raises concerns that a deployment presented as temporary could turn into a long-term reality.

Al Jazeera examined the issue from a broader perspective, arguing that the continued Israeli military presence across several arenas raises questions about the shape of a future regional settlement. Asharq Al-Awsat, meanwhile, linked the presence to Israeli security calculations in the post-war phase.

Iran and Washington: Negotiations Under Pressure from Escalation

The Iranian file dominated a large portion of the analysis, particularly following the expiration of the deadline associated with the memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran without a decisive breakthrough.

Asharq Al-Awsat focused on the contradiction between the diplomatic track and military threats, noting that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had threatened to shift from defensive to offensive operations, while US President Donald Trump continued to take a tougher stance in his demands on Tehran.

The newspaper concluded that the expiration of the 60-day period without meaningful negotiating progress could push relations between the two sides into a new phase of escalation.

In the same context, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed examined the repercussions of the war in the region and the expiration of the 60-day deadline, amid uncertainty over the fate of the US-Iranian understanding. It noted Iran’s continued rejection of the formula that Washington considers necessary.

Al Jazeera followed the issue from the perspective of continued US pressure on Tehran, while pointing to signs of progress in talks held through Muscat, alongside Trump’s announcement that he did not want to extend the memorandum of understanding.

An-Nahar also highlighted the paradox of continued US-Iranian contacts alongside increasingly belligerent rhetoric, amid mutual threats and mounting pressure.

ANHA