DAMASCUS: Visiting Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi hailed Syria's Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday for keeping government control on the country.
"Syria's government and people have gone through great difficulties, and today we can say that you have overcome all these problems and achieved victory despite the threats and sanctions imposed on you," Raisi told Assad, according to a statement from the Syrian presidency and Iran's IRNA news agency.
Tehran has provided economic, political and military support to Syria, helping Damascus claw back most of the territory it lost at the start of the conflict and positioning itself in a leading role as Assad seeks to focus on reconstruction.
Assad told Raisi that Syria-Iran ties "were stable and steady during difficult times despite heavy political and security storms that struck the Middle East", according to the statement.
Iran "did not hesitate to provide political and economic support (to Syria), and even offered blood," Assad added.
Raisi's visit is the first by an Iranian president to Syria since the war broke out, and comes at a time when more regional capitals are re-engaging with the government in Damascus.
The large Iranian delegation includes the ministers of foreign affairs, defence, oil, roads and urban development as well as telecommunications.
Assad and Raisi signed memoranda of understanding on "long-term strategic cooperation", covering fields including in oil, aviation, railways and agriculture, SANA said.
Iranian government spokesperson Ali Bahadori Jahromi said that "both countries are ready for the highest level of cooperation".
"The purpose of this trip is economic," he said, adding that the two countries could also "cooperate" on Syria's reconstruction.
Security forces were heavily deployed in key parts of the Syrian capital, while billboards with portraits of the two presidents reading "welcome" in Arabic and Persian lined the airport road.
Syrian and Iranian flags also flew along the road to the Sayyida Zeinab mausoleum south of Damascus.
Tehran also has been part of four-way talks with Damascus, Moscow and Ankara seeking to repair Syria-Türkiye ties, which were severed at the start of the conflict. — AFP
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