Head of the Syrian regime Bashar Assad held talks in Tehran on Monday with Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei.
It marked Assad’s first visit since the eruption of the Syrian war.
The leaders "reviewed the fraternal and strong relations between their two peoples, which have been the main factor in maintaining Syria and Iran in the face of plots by enemy countries", the presidency said.
Syrian and Iranian state television showed footage of Assad and Khamenei smiling and embracing, and Syrian TV said the two leaders agreed “to continue cooperation at all levels for the interests of the two friendly nations”.
Assad also met with Iran's President Hassan Rouhani during his trip.
Iran “as before will be alongside the people and government of Syria," Iran government's official website quoted Rouhani as saying.
It was Assad’s first known foreign visit other than to Russia since the war began, and his first to Tehran since 2010.
