Syrian official told Russian media that there are no plans for Iran to reduce its troop levels in the country, even if the US and Israel seek to offer Russia a deal.

Speaking to Izvestia and later reported in Russia’s TASS news agency, the report seeks to downplay rumors that an upcoming US, Israel and Russia trilateral meeting in Israel would examine Iran’s presence in Syria.

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Last week, the US and Israel said there would be a trilateral meeting with Russia this month. Reports emerged that there were discussions about a possible Trump administration suggestion that the US could accept the Assad regime in exchange for a reduction of Iranian forces and influence in Syria.

Asharq Al-Awsat reported the rumors Monday, but a US official told The National in Abu Dhabi that Washington flatly denied the report.

The US officially opposes the Bashar Assad regime and US President Donald Trump has launched airstrikes against the regime and harshly criticized it for human rights violations, including recent bombing in Idlib.

Trump has also accused Iran of attacking Idlib via its forces in Syria. US-Iran tensions rose this month as the US also accused Tehran of threats in the Gulf and in Iraq.

Israel has called on Iranian forces to leave Syria, and recent airstrikes in Syria, two of which Israeli Defense Forces released information about, have occurred over the last week since May 27.

Syria claimed that Israel struck its T-4 airbase where Iranians are suspected to be present.

Syria’s chairman of the Syrian Parliamentary Committee told Izvestia in Russia that “Damascus has no intention of turning away Iran’s military assistance or demanding an Iranian troop withdrawal.”

The Russian report notes that “Washington and Tel Aviv intended to offer a deal to Moscow and Damascus.” The deal would legitimize Assad and remove sanctions as long as the Iranian presence was reduced.

Vitaly Naumkin, director of the Institute of Oriental Studies at the Russian Academy of Science also threw cold water on the news. Russia will not harm relations with Iran for the “sake of a doubtful deal with the Americans,” TASS reported…. (Excerpted from The Jerusalem Post article by Seth J. Frantzman)