Iranian FM says ‘we are not fortune-tellers’ about Assad’s future amid false news influx
This picture shows a bullet-riddled portrait of Bashar al-Assad at the Kweyris military airfield in the eastern part of Aleppo province on December 3, 2024. (AFP Photo)
As Syria grapples with an intensifying opposition offensive, a surge of reports regarding President Bashar al-Assad’s fate and his government’s stability has flooded social media, prompting denials from multiple sources.
Among the rumors was a claim that Reuters had reported Assad’s regime would collapse “within hours,” allegedly citing U.S. officials. Reuters debunked the report, clarifying on Twitter: “Any claims that Reuters cited U.S. officials or U.S. sources saying Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad would fall within hours are false. Reuters did not report this.” However, after Assad forces lost Deraa, there is an understanding among experts that Assad’s days are numbered.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also addressed speculation during an interview with Iraq’s Al-Sharqiya TV channel. When asked about Assad’s future, Araghchi said, “We are not fortune-tellers; we cannot predict these things. Whatever God has ordained will happen. The resistance will fulfill its duty.”
Additional reporting targeted Syrian government officials, with reports claiming defections by the prime minister and other ministers, alongside allegations of an attempted military coup. These claims were falsely attributed to Syria’s SAMA TV.
Regime-run SAMA TV refuted the rumors through its Telegram channel, stating:
“This news, along with other similar reports, is fabricated and false, designed via Photoshop and spread by hostile platforms to create confusion. Please exercise caution and verify news through trusted national sources.”
