Iran’s FM visits Syria, says strategic relations at their best
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian was received by his Syrian counterpart Faisal Mekdad as he landed in Damascus on Wednesday to discuss the war in Ukraine along with other developments.
Mr. Amirabdollahian stressed the strong ties his country has with Damascus telling reporters that the strategic relationship between the two countries are “at their best”.
“We are in the same trench, and we support Syria’s leadership, government and people,” said Mr. Amirabdollahian in a comment in Arabic.
“We are talking about strategic ties and today, aside from all the dimensions of our relationship, the issue of economic relations is the priority.”
Touching on the Russian-Ukrainian war, Mekdad said, “Russia is defending its right in protecting its people by pushing away the NATO presence on its direct border,” Mr. Mekdad said.
“Russia is defending us all and is defending its sovereignty.”
Mr. Amirabdollahian also met with the Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and discussed the Russian-Ukrainian war, and they both agreed that the “international balance should not be subjected to dangerous shocks through which Western countries threaten international peace and security,” according to the Syrian state agency SANA.
“We welcome the fact that some Arab countries are trying to normalize relations with the Syrian Arab Republic,” said Mr. Amirabdollahian regarding al-Assad visit to the UAE.
Iran has been a close ally to Syria and its growing role in Syria has come since 2011 after Arab and foreign countries boycotted the Syrian government turning the tide of the war in favor of al-Assad.
Iran seeks to expand its control in Syria, via long term economic agreements with Damascus, the most important one is cooperative economic agreement in banking, financing, constructing and reconstruction at the end of 2019.
Iran supported and formed military militias, which are working to fulfill Iran’s ambition in Syria, the most prominent of these factions are National Defense Forces (NDF), Liwa Fatemiyoun, Hashemiyoun and Liwa Zainebiyoun.
Iran continues the process of recruiting Syrian militants within the ranks of factions affiliated with it through attracting them by offers, and extorting the deteriorating economic conditions that Syria is witnessing.
Iran seeks to recruit adults and minors within its factions and spread Shiism through different ways aiming at increasing its influence in eastern Syria’s areas.