Syria Eyes Expanding Economic Ties with Iran

Besides its military and political efforts to settle conflicts, Syria hopes to develop economic partnership with Iran, the Syrian prime minister said at a meeting with Head of the Center for Strategic Studies of Iran’s Expediency Council Ali Akbar Velayati, held in Damascus.

Halqi also praised Iran for supporting the Syrian nation and government during a crisis that has gripped the Arab country for more than 5 years.

For his part, Velayati said Syria is now in a stronger position than the past, expressing confidence that the Syrian government and nation’s fortitude will lead to victory for the axis of resistance.

The Iranian official, who is also a senior adviser to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, added that Tehran is resolved to promote cooperation with Damascus in all fields.

Syria has been gripped by civil war since March 2011 with various terrorist groups, including Daesh (also known as ISIS or ISIL), currently controlling parts of it.

According to a report by the Syrian Center for Policy Research, the conflict has claimed the lives of over 470,000 people, injured 1.9 million others, and displaced nearly half of the country’s pre-war population of about 23 million within or beyond its borders.

In the meantime, Iran has remained a close ally of Syria and supports its legitimate government in the face of foreign-backed militancy.