Iran, Syria vow cooperation on economy, sanctions

DAMASCUS－Syrian President Bashar al-Assad discussed economic cooperation with visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian in Damascus on Sunday, Syrian state media reported.

Both sides also discussed ways to cope with the sanctions imposed by the Western countries, mainly from the United States, the news agency SANA reported. In addition, the talks focused on regional and international developments.

Abdollahian briefed Assad on the outcomes of the Cooperation and Partnership Conference, with the two sides affirming that the region's future should be determined by the will of its people, according to SANA.

Assad stressed that the cooperation between Syria and Iran has generated positive results in protecting the interests of the two countries and peoples, particularly in combating terrorism.

Syria will continue to combat terrorism until all its lands are liberated, Assad said.

Abdollahian said Iran and Syria have both achieved great victories in their wars against terrorism, reiterating Teheran's support for Damascus and the Syrian people to confront terrorism in all its forms.

In a separate meeting, Abdollahian held talks with his Syrian counterpart, Faisal Mekdad.

Both countries vowed to take "mighty steps" to confront US sanctions imposed on the two regional allies, saying their relations will strengthen under Iran's new leadership. The announcement was made by Abdollahian, who was received at Damascus' airport by Mekdad.

Iran has been one of Damascus' strongest backers in Syria's 10-year civil conflict that has killed nearly half a million and displaced half the country's prewar population of 23 million.

Syria has been suffering for years under Western sanctions, which have caused severe fuel shortages in Syria, which has been relying mostly on Iranian oil shipments that have been subjected to mysterious attacks over the past two years.

"The leadership of the two countries will together take mighty steps to confront economic terrorism and reduce pressure on our people," Abdollahian said.

But he did not say how the two countries will fight the sanctions.

Agencies - Xinhua