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On February 25, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad arrived in Tehran where he met with Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and other top officials. This was the first such visit since the start of the war.
During the meeting, Assad expressed his gratitude to Iran for all that it has done for Syria during the conflict. The Syrian presidency added that the leaders “reviewed the fraternal and strong relations between their two peoples, which have been the main factor in maintaining Syria and Iran in the face of plots by enemy countries”.
Khamenei told Assad that the resistance of Syrian president and people as the main reason behind the defeat of the United States and its regional mercenaries.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran considers supporting the Syrian government and people as helping the resistance movement and current, and takes pride in it from the bottom of its heart,” Khamenei said adding that “The issue of the buffer zone, which Americans seek to establish in Syria, is among those dangerous plots that must be categorically rejected and stood against.”
“Iran and Syria are each other’s strategic depth and the identity and power of the resistance front depends on this continued and strategic relationship. This will prevent enemies from making their plans operational,” he added.
Khamenei also praised the role of Assad in the conflict.
“Through your steadfastness, you [Assad] turned into the hero of the Arab world and the resistance in the region has gained more power and credit through you,” he stressed noting that Iran will continue to stand by the Syrian nation “because considers this as helping the resistance front and movement.”
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who also met with Assad, noted that his country is ready to participate in rebuilding of Syria and restoring its stability.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran has always stood by the Syrian nation and government in the fight against terrorism in Syria and has spared no efforts in this regard,” the Iranian president said.
This meeting is another example of the deep ties, which had developed between Damascus and Tehran in the course of the ongoing conflict. These ties will likely grow further as there are almost no preconditions, which can limit the Iranian influence in the government-held part of the country.
