Russia stance on Assad suggests divergence with Iran

Fuelling speculation of Russian-Iranian differences over Assad, the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps suggested on November 2 that Tehran may be more committed to him than Moscow was.

However, one senior regional official cautioned against reading too much into the public statements on Assad, saying there is no difference between Russia and Iran over him. They agree on his staying in office, and that it is up to the Syrian people to elect their president, the official said.

Russia and Iran agreed on his staying in office, and that it was up to the Syrian people to elect their president.

While Russia and Iran have been Assad's foremost foreign supporters during Syria's four-year-old war, the United States, its Gulf allies and Turkey have insisted the president must step down as part of any eventual peace deal.

Recent talks in Vienna among the main foreign players involved in diplomatic efforts on Syria failed to reach agreement on Assad.

Asked by a reporter on November 3 if saving Assad was a matter of principle for Moscow, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said: "Absolutely not, we never said that."

"We are not saying that Assad should leave or stay," RIA news agency quoted her as saying.

But another regime change in the Middle East could be a catastrophe that "could simply turn the whole region into a large black hole", she added.

Zakharova said Russia had not changed its policy on Assad and that his fate should be decided by the Syrian people.

But her remarks appeared to suggest a difference of approach compared with Iran, which has sent forces to fight alongside Assad's military and the Lebanese Hezbollah group, which it backs, has also sent fighters.

The head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, acknowledged that Russia "may not care if Assad stays in power as we do". The Tasnim news agency quoted him on Monday as saying: "We don't know any better person to replace him."