Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa said on Tuesday that Damascus is working to keep Syria out of the ongoing regional war, warning that the country could still become a target amid escalating tensions.
Speaking at Chatham House in London, Sharaa responded to a question from an Anadolu correspondent about whether Syria could be directly targetted following Israeli strikes on Iran and whether Damascus had maintained any contact with Tehran since the start of war with the US and Israel.
“We don’t have official relations with Iran since the beginning of the war,” he said.
Sharaa acknowledged the risks facing Syria but emphasised a policy of avoiding escalation.
“Could Syria be targetted? It’s possible, but we are trying not to initiate hostility with anyone, and we are trying to keep Syria away from any battlefield,” he said.
He warned that the current regional climate is driven by heightened emotions and unpredictable decision-making.
“Everything is possible right now, because it is not wise judgment that is controlling matters today. The atmosphere is charged with anger, reactions, and random policies,” he added.
The Syrian president noted that such dynamics are affecting multiple countries, including Gulf states that had previously remained outside the conflict but have since been targetted.
He said Syria is seeking to take the safest course for its people and is carefully weighing its options to avoid being drawn into the conflict.
“We are trying to choose the safest situation for our people and to measure things carefully so that we do not reach a point where we are targetted and forced to respond,” he said.
In additional remarks carried by Alikhbariah TV, Sharaa said Syria has adopted a cautious approach toward Iran.
“Our policy has been clear since we entered Damascus (the day Assad regime collapsed), we have been cautious in opening relations with Iran up to this moment,” he said.
He added that Syria has advised pursuing negotiations rather than military escalation in the conflict with Iran.
“We have advised adopting a negotiated approach in the war with Iran, away from the military option,” he said.
On relations with the UK, Sharaa said recent meetings in London were “fruitful” and would help strengthen ties.
“Britain contributed to supporting Syria and lifting sanctions on the Syrian people, and today we held fruitful meetings that will further enhance relations,” he said.
He emphasised that stabilising the country and enabling the return of refugees remain top priorities.
“The Syrian people need to establish the foundations of stability and ensure the return of refugees,” he said, noting that returns are closely tied to reconstruction efforts.
Sharaa said Syria is pursuing reconstruction through investment, aiming to turn the country into an economic opportunity.
He also said Russian military bases in Syria would be repurposed as training centres for the Syrian Army, while describing ties with Moscow as longstanding.
“There are historical relations between Russia and Syria,” he said, adding that Syria’s diplomatic activity reflects engagement with multiple global powers.
On Israel, Sharaa said Damascus had attempted dialogue, but accused Israel of acting negatively.
“Israel dealt with Syria in a negative way. We tried through dialogue and discussion to reach good points, but in the last moments everything changed,” he said.
He also expressed solidarity with Palestinians, saying Syria shares a common experience with Gaza.
The US and Israel have maintained an air offensive on Iran since Feb. 28, killing so far over 1,340 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, along with Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation.