Iranian President Hassan Rouhani pledged on Tuesday to continue supporting the Syrian government as he received Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal al-Meqdad in Tehran.
The Iranian News Agency (IRNA) quoted Rouhani as saying that relations will continue with strength and with the determination of the officials of the two countries.
"We have no doubt that we must continue the resistance until the end and eliminate the terrorists," Rouhani said, adding that Tehran "will always stand by Syria, its government and people ... and will always be by this country until the final victory."
For his part, Meqdad described the relationship between Tehran and Damascus as "one of the most valuable and honest political relations in the world.”
The FM stressed that "relations between Syria and Iran are strategic, and Tehran will remain with Syria, the people and government, until the final victory is achieved."
Meqdad also stressed that confronting Israeli occupation and terrorism is a common goal for Syria and Iran, adding: “There is no doubt that the resistance will continue until terrorism is eliminated in the region."
Rouhani said: "We reiterate our condemnation of US President Donald Trump’s recognition of the occupied Syrian Golan as part of Israel, and we believe that the confrontation with Israel should continue until the liberation of the occupied territories, including the Golan."
He remarked that the Astana track serves the interests of Syria and its territorial integrity, while also expressing support to the amendments to the Syrian constitution, saying: “We hope that next year, Syria will hold general elections in which all political parties can participate.”
Rouhani also noted that "Iran has experienced the worst sanctions during the past three years," stressing that it "is aware of the difficult conditions that the Syrian people are going through as a result of terrorism and sanctions."
Commenting on the assassination of Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani in early 2020, he said it aimed to avenge the resistance of Iran, adding that the recent assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh sought to “take revenge” on Iran’s scientific and technological development.
On Tuesday, Meqdad had also met Secretary of the Supreme Council for National Security of Iran Ali Shamkhani, who said: "America’s presence in Syria aims to smuggle its oil and ensure the security of Israel and expand (ISIS) terrorist cells in the region.”
The Iranian official also stressed on the need to "put an end to the evil American presence in the region."
Meqdad’s visit to Tehran is his first foreign trip since he was appointed foreign minister last month after the death of Walid al-Muallem.
On Nov. 28, the Syrian FM accused Israel and “those who supported it” of being behind the killing of Fakhrizadeh, an act he said would only fuel more tensions in the region.
