TEHRAN (Dispatches) -- Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has congratulated Syria’s Bashar al-Assad on winning a fourth presidential term.
“I sincerely congratulate you on the successful conduct of the elections and your re-election as President of the Syrian Arab Republic,” Rouhani said in a statement to President Assad.
“The Syrian people took an important step in deciding the fate and prosperity of Syria with their large turnout and decisive choice,” Rouhani added.
Assad won the election on Thursday with a majority of 95.1%.
Rouhani expressed absolute confidence that the two friendly and brotherly countries would witness further expansion of cooperation during new phase of Syrian political life.
In a statement issued on Friday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry extended congratulations to Assad and the resilient Syrian nation on his firm victory in the election.
“Successful holding of the election and the Syrian people’s massive turnout are an important step in establishing peace, stability and tranquility as well as Syria’s reconstruction and development,” said the statement.
In a televised speech addressing Syrians on Friday night after winning his fourth seven-year term in the 2021 presidential election, Assad said the Syrian nation has “redefined patriotism” by voting in the country’s presidential election and turned the vote into a “real revolution” against foreign-backed terrorism and scheme-devising enemies.
“The message of this election reached the enemies and the national duty was fulfilled,” Assad said, adding that the enemies, however, stubbornly “insist on ignoring the message sent by the Syrian people in the election.”