QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi concluded a two-day visit to Damascus confirming, along with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad, on developing the economic and trade relations in addition to enhancing cooperation in the reconstruction era following 12 years of the devastating war.
This was the first visit of an Iranian president to the war-torn country since 2011 although Tehran provided Syria politically, economically, and militarily during the war years the matter led to a change in the course of the conflict in favour of Damascus.
The Associated Press (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.
Raise told al-Assad during their meeting that Syria has overcome great hardships that it went through despite threats and sanctions imposed against it.
However, large parts of northern Syria remain outside the government rule.
In a joint statement, the two presidents expressed their readiness to develop economic and trade relations. They also affirmed “the existing cooperation between them with regard to the reconstruction of Syria.”
Since the early years of the Syrian conflict, Tehran has sent military advisors to support Damascus. It also contributed in pushing allied groups, headed by the Lebanese Hezbollah, to fight in Syria along with the government forces.
Attracting funds for the reconstruction era is a priority to Damascus as the war has claimed the lives of more than half a million people and devastated the infrastructure, and weakened the economy, the factories, and the production.
During his participation in a business forum, Raisi described his visit as a “turning point” that would have its impact on the region and on the trade and economic relations between the two countries.
On Thursday, Raisi said Iran and Syria had signed 15 “cooperation documents” that would allow “both countries to open a new chapter in economic relations.”
Both Syria and Iran have been subjected to harsh sanctions because of Syria’s suppression of protests and Iran’s nuclear program.
Raisi’s visit comes weeks after Iran and arch-rival Saudi Arabia agreed to restore ties, prompting regional capitals to re-engage with the internationally isolated Damascus and Tehran governments.
On May7, Arab League foreign ministers will hold an emergency meeting, discussing the conflict in Sudan and Syria’s readmission to the bloc, after it was suspended in 2011 for its suppression of protests.