(MENAFN) Iran's ambassador to Damascus, Hossein Akbari, stated on Wednesday evening that his country has not initiated direct communication with the Syrian opposition that has taken control of the country following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad's regime. In an interview with Iranian media, Akbari explained that "no government has been formed in Syria yet to establish direct contact" and emphasized that there has been no communication with the new authorities in Syria.

He also mentioned that the Iranian embassy, which was attacked by militants last Sunday, remains open in Damascus, noting that there are about 10,000 Iranian citizens in Syria. The embassy will resume consular services after the formation of Syria’s new Foreign Ministry. Akbari highlighted that the protection of Shiite shrines and the safety of minorities in Syria are critical issues for Iran, describing them as "a red line." He also added that security guards have been stationed in front of the embassy since yesterday to protect it from potential attacks.

On Monday, international media reported a statement from a senior Iranian official regarding Tehran’s "direct contact" with Syrian dissidents. However, it remains unclear whether these contacts were with Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham or other factions responsible for overthrowing Assad's regime.

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