Former Syrian PM Riad Hijab: Iran is running Syria The former Syrian Prime Minister Riad Hijab who defected from the regime of President Bashar al-Assad earlier this year says Russia - and particularly Iran - are now deciding policy in Syria. He told HARDtalk's Stephen Sackur in the the Jordanian capital Amman, that President Assad would never voluntarily surrender power even if he were offered safe passage to another country. You can watch the full interview on BBC World News on Wednesday 21 November at 04:30, 09:30, 15:30 and 21:30 GMT and on the BBC News Channel on Wednesday 21 November at 04:30 GMT and on Thursday 22 November at 00:30 GMT.