DAMASCUS (Dispatches) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad highlighted Tuesday strategic relations with Iran, calling for continued consultations between the two sides, particularly on regional issues, given the rapid developments in the region and the world.

Assad made the remarks in a meeting here with Ali Asghar Khaji, a senior aide on political affairs to Iran’s foreign minister. Khaji said the Western countries have been attempting to isolate Syria but such a policy is defeated given the developments unfolding on the battlefield against terrorists and the improvement of its relations with other states.