DAMASCUS (Dispatches) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hussein Amir-Abdollahian has met Syrian leaders, including President Bashar al-Asssad, reiterating Tehran’s support for Damascus and condemning repeated Israeli acts of aggression against the Arab country.
The minister singled out the regime’s most recent airstrike against an international airport in the northwestern city of Aleppo, saying the attack indicated the Zionist regime’s aggressive and inhumane nature.
Amir-Abdollahian said the strike reflected the occupying regime’s anxiety over the change that has affected the political equation in Syria -- apparently referring to the regional countries’ race to restore their relations with the Arab country.
The minister reiterated Iran’s solidarity with the Syrian government and nation in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake that killed about 56,000 people in the Arab country and neighboring Turkey.
He also reiterated Iran’s call for Western sanctions on Syria to be removed in order to allow humanitarian aid to the country.
President Assad expressed his gratitude to the Islamic Republic over its support for the Syrian nation and thanked Amir-Abdollahian for visiting to quake-hit areas.
Assad also laid emphasis on the need for further development of his country’s relations with Iran, describing them as strategic and in favor of regional stability and security.
The Iranian top diplomat also met with his Syrian counterpart Faisal al-Mekdad. Asked at a joint news conference if Iran had any plans to reinforce Syrian air defenses, Amir-Abdollahian said, “Tough days await the Zionist regime.”
He said the time has come for foreign forces to leave Syria, saying Tehran invites all parties to respect Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, security, and stability.
Amir-Abdollahian condemned double standards adopted by the West toward the earthquake in Syria.
The minister also hailed the regional countries’ efforts to repair their ties with the Arab nation.
“We have no doubt that the Zionists will have no place in the region’s future, but the regional countries will take strong steps towards interaction with one another,” he said.
Mekdad said, “Our mission in the region is to return the situation to normal.”
He thanked Iran for its humanitarian aid, saying the Islamic Republic was the first country to help Syria after the quake.