Syrian President Bashar Assad hailed on Thursday the military agreement signed with Tehran this week in the capital Damascus. This came during a meeting he held with visiting Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Mohammad Bagheri.
“The agreement highlights the strategic relations between Syria and Iran,” Assad said, adding that it comes as a result of years of mutual work and cooperation against the "terrorist war on Syria and the aggressive policies imposed on Syria and Iran."
For his part, Bagheri stressed the importance of continuing to bolster relations between both countries to achieve mutual benefits and protection against foreign interference in the internal affairs of Syria and Iran, Syrian state-owned news agency SANA quoted him as saying.
On Wednesday, Syria and Iran signed a comprehensive military agreement to strengthen military and security cooperation at various fields of work of the armed forces in the two friendly countries.
After meeting with Syrian Defense Minister General Ali Ayoub, Bagheri said his country will strengthen Syria's air defense systems, adding that the deal will "further enhance our will to confront pressures by the US."
Iran is considered Syria’s main regional ally and it has provided Syria with political, economic and military support since the conflict started in 2011.
