the Islamic Republic or its proxy Hezbollah in any war with Israel, according to a leaked US diplomatic cable.
The December 22, 2009, cable, among thousands published by WikiLeaks in recent weeks, reports on a visit to Syria by four Iranian officials and the signing of a defense memorandum of understanding, ostensibly a show of solidarity as the West closed ranks to isolate Iran.
“Syria reportedly resisted Iranian entreaties to commit to joining Iran if fighting broke out between Iran and Israel or Hezbollah and Israel,” said the cable, signed by Chuck Hunter, the chargé d’affaires at the US Embassy in Syria. The published cable deleted the name of Hunter’s source for the information. “XXXX said Iranian officials were in Syria ‘to round up allies’ in anticipation of an Israeli military strike. ‘It [an Israeli strike on Iran] is not a matter of if, but when,’ XXXX said, reporting what Syrian officials had heard from their Iranian counterparts.
“The Syrian response, he continued, was to tell the Iranians not to look to Syria, Hezbollah or Hamas to ‘fight this battle.’ ‘We told them Iran is strong enough on its own to develop a nuclear program and to fight Israel,’ he said, adding, ‘we’re too weak.’ The Iranians know Syria has condemned Israeli threats and would denounce Israeli military operations against Iran. ‘But they were displeased with [Syrian President Bashar] Assad’s response. They needed to hear the truth,’ XXXX said.”
The cable notes signs and reports that the Syrians were not eager to receive their guests.
One of the most important visitors, Pasdar General Ghassem Soleimani, was out of sight, the cable said, and the government timed visits from French and Turkish dignitaries during the eight-day period the Iranians visited.
In a news conference, according to the cable, the presidential spokeswoman discussed the other visits but barely mentioned the Iranians.