Iranian officials say it is up to the Syrian people to decide whether he stays in power as part of any peace settlement.

The Syrian people have decided. But here is Iran, with Russian help, dictating at gunpoint that the Syrian people must accept the Iranian/Russian decreed government, the government against which the Syrian people have been rebelling these last several years.

“Other countries mustn’t dictate Syria’s political future.” No, Iran has reserved that task to itself.