The Iranian regime’s involvement in Syria surpasses the mere deployment of paramilitary forces and continuous support for the defense of Bashar al-Assad. In the fiercely contested province of Deir ez-Zor in eastern Syria, the regime has implemented a strategy of soft power, using cultural centers to extend its influence.
This approach targets the predominantly Sunni Muslim population, which has suffered greatly from the regime’s destructive interference in Syria. It is important to note that these actions are not acts of charity, especially considering the significant number of Iranians living below the poverty line.
Syrian opponents assert that behind these cultural initiatives lies a hidden agenda aimed at expanding the regime’s influence and solidifying Iran’s interests following the decline of the Syrian civil war.
A report published in September 2021 on the website “Enab Baladi,” titled “Iranian Cultural Center in Deir ez-Zor… A Brainwashing Scheme for Sectarianism,” delves into the background of these activities.
The main cultural center, established in 2018 in the heart of Deir ez-Zor Province, has been followed by the establishment of local branches in the western Euphrates region.
These centers are now under the supervision and command of Hajj Rasoul, a former member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), who assumed his role in February 2022. Abu Sadiq, the former head of this center, previously hosted a children’s festival in Deir ez-Zor, claiming in an interview with Sama TV, a Syrian regime supporter, that the goal was to bring joy to the locals.
In May, the local Foratpost website published a list of free courses offered by these cultural centers in the cities of Deir ez-Zor, Al-Mayadin, and Al-Bukamal. The courses include after-school classes for boys and girls, as well as English and computer courses for all age groups.
The report reveals that in 2022, dozens of male and female nurses completed courses at these cultural centers under the supervision of Hajj Askar, a senior security official of the IRGC in Abu Kamal. The center has also reportedly established several hospitals and playgrounds in villages.
Various Iranian regime-affiliated charities, including the Jihad Construction Organization, are assisting these programs. The New Arab, based in the UK, published a report highlighting the role of this organization, labeled as “terrorist” by the United States, and its connections to Hezbollah in Lebanon and paramilitary forces supporting the Bashar al-Assad regime.
In May, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, also based in the UK, published a report on the Iranian regime’s plan through cultural centers to provide free education and monthly stipends to youths under 18 years old. The organization suggests that the goal is to secretly train them for jihad.
Many experts view these activities as Iran’s gateway to Syria. One program listed is the opening of a Hussainiya (Shiite religious center) in the city of Deir ez-Zor, as well as the construction of a Shiite shrine near the renowned Ein Ali Spring, close to the town of Al-Quriyah.
It is worth noting that Al-Quriyah is situated on the banks of the Euphrates, downstream from Deir ez-Zor, with the Al-Omar oil field, housing the largest US-backed coalition base in Syria, located on the other side. This raises skepticism about the regime’s ambitions.
Local reports indicate that the regime has been steadily increasing its influence in the areas since it was liberated from ISIS. Locals point to examples such as the renaming of local mosques and the construction of shrines and Hussainiyas.
Similar facts were reported by The Washington Post in January 2022. Local residents informed the media outlet that Iran had built a school and distributed food baskets, indicating its efforts to propagate malign ideology.
Badr Saffif, a political analyst, sees these activities running parallel to Iran’s military involvement and support for paramilitary groups. He suggests that if a political solution is found to end the civil war, the Iranian regime will be compelled to leave Syria. Prior to such a scenario, the regime has deployed its soft power to “establish its plan among the people” and maintain a long-lasting presence.
According to Saffif, any program organized by the educational authorities in Deir ez-Zor involves the Iranian regime’s cultural center.
Amjad Al-Sari from the website “Chashm Faraat” has stated that the Iranian regime’s cultural center exerts complete control over the educational sector in Deir ez-Zor through a network of local centers focused on teaching Persian language and Shia religious teachings to children.
