Rouhani:

Iran to Continue Supporting Syrian Gov't, Nation Against Terrorist Groups

Rasa - Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in a message to his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad renewed Tehran's support for the Damascus ongoing fight against terrorist groups.

News ID: 429426

Date: 03 May 2017 - 23:40

RNA - "Iran will continue supporting Syria’s independence and territorial integrity," President Rouhani said in his congratulatory message on the occasion of Syria's Independence Day submitted by new Iranian Ambassador to Damascus Javad Torkabadi to President Assad.

The Iranian president expressed the hope that peace and stability will be restored to Syria soon, and said, "The process of rebuilding Syria and restoring prosperity to that country will begin soon."

The Iranian President underlined that just like the independence achieved by Syrian people in the past, the Syrian will defeat terrorists and their protectors.

President Assad received Torkabadi and accepted his credentials on Tuesday.

During the meeting, the Syrian president wished the new Ambassador success during his mission to that country.

In relevant remarks in March, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif warned that deployment of the foreign forces in Syria would lead to the reinvigoration of extremist groups in the region.

"We respect the governments and don’t interfere in affairs related to their sovereignty as far as they don’t harm the Islamic Republic of Iran's security," Zarif said.

"Regardless of the views of our friends in Damascus, we believe that presence of the US forces in Syria will exacerbate the crisis in the country," he added.

Zarif reminded of the formation of the ISIL terrorist group in Iraq after the US military invasion of the country in 2003, and said, "Principally, formation of extremist groups in our region has been a response to the presence of foreign forces."

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