ALWAGHT- The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson has condemned the killing of a local embassy staff member in Damascus, Syria, who was fatally shot by terrorists targeting his vehicle.
Esmaeil Baghaei, an Iranian diplomat, extended his condolences to the Iranian people and the family of Seyyed Davoud Bitaraf, who was assassinated by "terrorist elements" on December 15. He condemned the act of terror and confirmed that Bitaraf’s body had been located, identified, and recently brought back to Iran.
Baghaei called on Syria’s transitional government to take responsibility for investigating the crime and prosecuting the perpetrators. He stated that the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is actively pursuing the case through diplomatic and international channels.
During a press briefing in Tehran, Baghaei emphasized that reopening the Iranian embassy in Syria is a priority. However, he noted that this would only happen once the necessary conditions, particularly regarding the safety and security of the embassy and its staff, are in place.
The Iranian embassy in Damascus was stormed and ransacked by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) militants following the collapse of President Bashar al-Assad’s government on December 8. No timeline was provided for reopening the embassy, but Baghaei assured efforts are ongoing to achieve this objective.
