An editorial in Siyasat-e Ruztitled, “Syria is Different from Romania,” criticizes the Iranian foreign service’s low profile management of the ongoing crisis in Syria as compared to Turkey’s high profile involvement. It maintains that Turkey heads countries that are hostile to Syria and acts overtly with full force against the Syrian government, provides weapons to “the terrorists” and provides any available form of assistance to (Sunni) Wahhabis and al-Qaeda operatives acting against “the only country that defended Iran during the Iran-Iraq War.” The editorial underlines the now, more than ever, is the time to support Syria and help it rise above the crisis. The writer criticizes the silence of politicians and the state-run media, and argues that people turn to foreign sources to collect information and therefore fall under their influence. He urges state-run media to play a more active role in neutralizing the extensive negative media propaganda against Syria. The writer praises Saeed Jalili, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), for visiting Syria and for his meeting with Bashar Assad, describing it as “a well-timed and vital visit.” To conclude, the writer maintains that government officials must allocate more time to the issue of Syria and adopt unambiguous and explicit stances. They should not be worried that the story of Romania and the fall of Ceausescu (the Romanian president) will repeat itself. There is a huge disparity between Syria and Romania.
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