The United States is opposed to the Arab League's decision to readmit Syria to the organization, after its suspension in 2011, following the start of civil conflict in the country. This was said by the deputy spokesman of the US State Department Vedant Patel in a press briefing. "We don't believe Syria deserves readmission to the Arab League right now," Patel said, stressing that "after the brutal civil war" President Bashar al Assad "does not deserve normalization."
Iran, on the other hand, welcomed the decision. "The resolution of differences between Muslim states, as well as convergence and synergy between them, has a positive impact on regional stability and reduces foreign interference in regional affairs," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said in congratulating Damascus.
The foreign ministers of Arab League member countries reached an agreement on Sunday by which Syria returned to the organization after being suspended 12 years earlier. The decision was taken ahead of the Arab League summit scheduled for May 19 in Saudi Arabia and in the context of a recent normalization process between Syria and various countries in the region.