Ammon News - Syria remains open to resuming negotiations with Israel if there is “real political will,” Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said on Thursday, as Damascus continues to push for a security agreement aimed at reducing tensions.

Al-Shaibani said Syria had previously sought to reach a security agreement with Israel but accused the Israeli side of backing away from commitments made during the process.

“We tried to reach a security agreement with Israel, but it retreated from its commitments,” the foreign minister said.

Despite that, al-Shaibani said Damascus had not closed the door to talks and remained interested in reaching an agreement that could help de-escalate tensions between the two sides.

“We are still interested in reaching an agreement with Israel to reduce escalation,” he said, adding that negotiations could resume if Israel demonstrated “real political will.”

The foreign minister also said Syria had made clear to the United States that it did not trust Israel’s intentions.

Al-Shaibani rejected attempts to link Israeli military action to the presence of Turkish forces in Syria, saying such arguments were not supported by the situation on the ground.

He also said Syria had the right to rebuild its military institutions and develop its capabilities as the country seeks to restore institutions damaged by years of conflict.