Presidents of Syria, Iran sign series of agreements
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The Iranian President, Ebrahim Raisi, and his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad signed on Wednesday a series of long-term cooperation agreements on oil and other sectors to bolster economic ties between the two countries, according to Associated Press (AP).
The AP said, citing Syrian state media, that Raisi and al-Assad signed agreements and memorandums of understanding related to several sectors, including oil, agriculture, railways and free trade zones.
Earlier on Wednesday, Raisi arrived in Damascus International Airport in a two-day official visit to Syria.
Raise told al-Assad during their meeting that Syria has overcome great hardships that it went through despite threats and sanctions imposed against it.
“Iran’s state-owned railway company has long aspired to expand its network through neighboring Iraq and Syria, linking it to the Syrian port of Latakia on the Mediterranean Sea to boost trade,” according to the AP.
Syria’s opposition and Tehran critics see this as another attempt of Iran at growing its political influence, the source added.
A day earlier, in an interview with al-Mayadeen TV. Channel, Raisi described his country’s relations with Syria as “strategic and deep”, and stressed that his visit to Syria comes in the framework of consolidating these relations.