Iran says awaiting ‘necessary conditions’ to reopen Syria embassy

Iran’s foreign ministry says its embassy in Syria will 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,” says foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei.

He adds 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.