Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani says he expects security negotiations with Israel to resume in the near future, despite tensions following an Israeli strike on a Syrian airbase and what he described as a lack of trust between the sides.
In an interview with Reuters in Damascus on Saturday, Shaibani said Syria's immediate priority is an end to Israeli military action and that steps to build confidence would be necessary before further progress could be made.
"I believe negotiations will resume soon," Shaibani told Reuters, adding that no date has yet been set.
According to Shaibani, contacts between Israel and Syria were halted following the Israeli strike on the Abu al-Duhur airbase. Israel said Damascus had been preparing to allow Turkish forces to deploy at the site, an assertion denied by both Syria and Turkey.
Shaibani said Damascus nevertheless believes communication with Israel remains necessary.
"We believe there should be contact, especially with a party that constantly threatens the security of Syria," he said. "But if this contact doesn't bring results, then we don't need it."
"We do not trust Israel currently," he added.
The Syrian foreign minister said negotiations over a security arrangement had been suspended since the beginning of the Iran war, but said the US was working to bring the sides back to negotiations.
"The US is trying continuously to put pressure on Israel to return to the dialogue table," Shaibani said.
Washington has sought for more than a year to promote a security agreement between Israel and the government of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Shaibani said the parties had made significant progress earlier in the year and had reached understandings on most of the proposed agreement.
According to Shaibani, the arrangement would require Israel to halt attacks in Syria and would be linked to an Israeli withdrawal from territory taken following the fall of Bashar al-Assad.
The proposed agreement would also establish security zones on the Syrian side of the border, including a buffer area with a UN presence and other areas in which Syrian forces could deploy at different levels.
Shaibani claimed, however, that Israel had not demonstrated sufficient willingness to implement an agreement.
"We did not see they had the real will to reach an agreement," he said.
He also accused Israel of seeking to ensure its security through military force, while saying Damascus was still prepared to pursue diplomacy.
Asked about his confidence in reaching an agreement, Shaibani said, "It's very hard to bet on Israel," but added that Syria had significant hopes of establishing stable relations with neighboring countries.
"Syria is extending its hand for understandings, for peace, for diplomacy, and regional stability," he said.
Shaibani said Syria recognizes Israel's security concerns but expects Israel to recognize Syrian concerns as well, citing Israeli activity in Syrian airspace, strikes and arrests in southern Syria.
He said Syria's current objective is to "stop Israeli aggression even before reaching a security agreement," adding that questions concerning broader peace arrangements and the Golan Heights could potentially be addressed afterward.
US special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack has said Washington is seeking to establish a mechanism aimed at preventing clashes involving Israel, Syria and Turkey.
Shaibani said no agreement on such a mechanism has yet been reached. In his view, any arrangement must prevent attacks and help advance a security agreement rather than solidify Israel's presence in Syrian territory.
The foreign minister also addressed Syria's ties with Turkey, saying Damascus receives Turkish assistance in military training and cooperation, alongside support from countries including Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
He said Syria was grateful for Turkey's role in rebuilding its military and intended to continue receiving such assistance.