RNA - "Supporting Syria and Bashar al-Assad and fighting terrorism is the Islamic Republic of Iran's strategy for protecting the resistance front, and the Islamic Republic of Iran will stand beside Syria as long as the Syrian government feels the need," Shamkhani said on Monday.
Stressing President Assad's popularity, he said, "In the view of the Syrian people, he has been able to resist during the current crisis despite all the political, security and economic pressures."
"If the westerners believe that Assad is not popular anymore, then why are they concerned about his candidacy again," Shamkhani asked.
His remarks came after President Assad appreciated Iran for its sincere support for Damascus in the war on terrorism, and said Tehran should also be congratulated for the recent victories against the terrorist groups in Syria, specially in Aleppo.
"We should felicitate you on these victories (too) since they have been materialized with your support," President Assad said in a meeting with Chairman of the Iranian parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi in Damascus earlier this month after the latter congratulated him on the recent successes in the war on terrorism.
Iran has helped Syria in the fight against the terrorist groups by playing a military advisory role based on the defense agreements between the two countries.
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