The story: Syria’s de facto leader and now interim president, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, has hosted scores of foreign delegations since seizing power. Visitors to Damascus have included western officials, regional leaders, and even Russian diplomats—but Iranians are nowhere to be seen. As some in Tehran lament being left out, hardline voices mock Sharaa—once a senior Al-Qaida figure—for his effort to gain legitimacy, and dismiss the longevity of his rule. This comes as Saudi Arabia and Turkey are the first foreign destinations of Syria’s new ruler.

The coverage: Sharaa traveled to Saudi Arabia on Feb. 2 in his first foreign trip since Sunni Islamist Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) ousted...