Diplomats Weigh Plans to Broaden Iran-Syria Ties


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Iranian foreign minister’s senior advisor for special political affairs and Syria’s foreign minister discussed the ways to promote cooperation between Tehran and Damascus in various fields.

Ali Asghar Khaji, the Iranian foreign minister’s senior advisor for special political affairs, who is in Syria at the head of a delegation, held a meetings with Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Meqdad on Monday.

The two officials discussed various issues in the meeting, including the ways to expand cooperation between Iran and Syria, the latest developments in Syria, the developments in Ukraine, the continuation of the Astana peace negotiations, and constitutional talks.

Khaji underlined that Iran will support the government and people of Syria and that the policy of isolating Syria has failed.

He added that Iran will make efforts to strengthen national dialogue in Syria and pave the way for the return of refugees and the reconstruction of the Arab country, the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s website reported.

Khaji also reiterated that holding a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Astana format members and also a summit of their presidents in Tehran is being pursued.

For his part, Syrian Foreign Minister Meqdad appreciated Iran’s efforts to support the government and people of Syria in economic and political fields and also Tehran’s backing for dialogue among Syrian factions within the Astana format.

He said given the strategic ties between Iran and Syria, their consultations will continue at turning points of regional developments.

He underscored that the enemies of the Syrian people failed to achieve their goals in Syria through military means and creation of terrorist groups, and are now trying to achieve the objectives through political battles and sanctions.