Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem has called for expansion of strategic ties with Iran as well as preserving high-level coordination and consultation between the two countries. RNA - Muallem made the remarks in a meeting on Monday with an Iranian delegation headed by Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the Iranian parliament speaker's special adviser on international affairs.
The top Syrian diplomat also expressed his country’s appreciation for Iran’s support of his country’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, according to Syria’s official news agency (SANA).
Muallem also praised Iran’s continued support for Syria in its battle against terrorists that had waged a war against the Arab country thus endangering the security and stability in the region.
Amir-Abdollahian, for his part, asserted the Tehran- Damascus ties were deep-rooted and that the two countries should join forces to withstand bullying of hegemonic powers.
“Challenges and conspiracies targeting the two countries will only make the two brotherly peoples more determined to defend their rights in the face of the hegemony attempts which target the region as a whole,” SANA quoted Amir-Abdollahian as saying.
According to Press TV, the senior Iranian official also extended congratulations to Syrian people on the political and field victories achieved under the leadership of President Bashar al-Assad, noting that Tehran will continue its support for the Syrian leadership and people in the face of terrorism.
Over the past years, Iran and Russia have been respectively lending military advisory support and aerial backup to the Syrian military in its battle against militants and Takfiri terrorists. The foreign-backed groups started a campaign of bloodshed and destruction against the Arab country in 2011.
Separately on Monday, Syria's parliament speaker, Hammoudeh Sabbagh, held a meeting with Amir-Abdollahian and his accompanying delegation, urging enhancement of parliamentary relations between the two countries.
Sabbagh lauded the Iranian leadership and government’s support for Syrian people, reaffirming Syria’s support for Iran in confronting US threats.
He also described Syrian-Iranian relations as “strong.”
For his part, Amir-Abdollahian pointed to the role of MPs in revitalizing trade exchange and economic relations, asserting that Iran will exert all possible efforts to support Syria on the political and economic levels.
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