Iran will “consider” sending troops to Syria if Damascus requests it, said Iranian diplomatic chief Abbas Araghsi, whose country supports the regime of Bashar al-Assad.

“If the Syrian government asks us to send forces to Syria, we will consider this request,” Araghsi said, according to the ministry’s Telegram account, citing an interview with the Arabic-language news website Al-Araby al-Jadid.

The statement is the clearest the Iranian authorities have made since the surprise attack launched on November 27 by rebel groups against the Assad regime. On Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said his country intends to maintain the “military advisers” it has sent to Syria, without specifying whether or not the number of those forces would be increased.

Shiite fighters affiliated with Iran are also in Syria to reinforce Assad’s forces.

Many Iranian officers have been killed in Syria, some in fighting, others by Israeli strikes. Visiting Damascus on Monday, Araxi assured his country would provide “all necessary support” to its ally to counter the rebels.

Tehran considers this attack on the Syrian regime to be a US-Saudi conspiracy aimed at “destabilizing” the Middle East.