Zarif: Iran to Open Consulate in Syria’s Aleppo

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during his meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Damascus on Wednesday, May 12, 2021. (The Syrian Presidency)
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during his meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Damascus on Wednesday, May 12, 2021. (The Syrian Presidency)
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Zarif: Iran to Open Consulate in Syria’s Aleppo

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during his meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Damascus on Wednesday, May 12, 2021. (The Syrian Presidency)
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during his meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Damascus on Wednesday, May 12, 2021. (The Syrian Presidency)

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Wednesday his country will open a consulate in Aleppo, as approved by the Syrian President to improve trade and economic ties between both countries.

This came during Zarif's visit to Damascus where he met with Assad.

According to SANA news agency, the two figures discussed bilateral relations and the ongoing coordination and consultation at all levels. They further tackled means of bolstering joint cooperation in various fields to serve both countries’ interests.

“Talks further touched on regional developments, the recent Israeli aggression on the Palestinian territories and its practices aimed at changing the status of the occupied Palestinian territories, including Jerusalem.”

Zarif also briefed Assad on the “developments regarding the Iranian nuclear issue, details of the current negotiations with relevant parties and the attempts by some parties to impede progress in this regard.”

The FM said he discussed with Assad and his Syrian counterpart Faisal al-Mekdad bilateral, regional and international issues.

He stressed the importance of the upcoming elections and its impact on Syria’s future, stability, and security.

“We are ready to participate in the elections as observers, and we hope that the Syrian people ensure their future, order and security by participating in these elections.”

Zarif also discussed with Syrian officials the latest developments in “Jerusalem and the occupied Palestine,” while highlighting Palestinian people’s need for international support, IRNA reported.



Military Intervention Only Way to Halt Iran’s Nuclear Program, Says Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looks on during a meeting with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on April 7, 2025. (AFP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looks on during a meeting with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on April 7, 2025. (AFP)
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Military Intervention Only Way to Halt Iran’s Nuclear Program, Says Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looks on during a meeting with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on April 7, 2025. (AFP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looks on during a meeting with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on April 7, 2025. (AFP)

Military intervention is the only way to halt Iran’s nuclear program, insisted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“You go in, blow up the facilities, dismantle all the equipment, under American supervision, American execution,” he said in a video statement Tuesday, citing the US-led intervention in Libya. Otherwise, he said, Iran will drag out talks for years.

Netanyahu repeated his support for US President Donald Trump’s controversial plan to force Palestinians to leave Gaza for other countries.

Netanyahu met Trump at the White House on Monday.

He also said Israel would keep working against Türkiye's attempts to establish military bases in Syria, and would turn to Trump, who has a good relationship with the Turkish president.

Netanyahu said he told Trump that reducing Israel's trade deficit with the US to zero — per a request from Trump — was “the least we can do for the United States and its president who do so much for us.”

The US had a $7.4 billion trade deficit in goods last year with Israel, according to the Census Bureau.