New Syrian FM in Tehran to Cement Ties
IRAN NEWS POLITICAL DESK
TEHRAN – Faysal Mikdad, the newly-appointed foreign minister of Syria, made his first foreign visit to Tehran yesterday to hold talks with senior Iranian officials, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said on Sunday.
Mikdad yesterday met his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif and discussed a broad range of issues in a meeting in Tehran.
In the Monday talks, the two ministers discussed bilateral, regional and international issues as well as the joint battle against terrorism.
Hailing the broad and strategic relations between Iran and Syria, the two senior diplomats reaffirmed commitment to enhancing and strengthening bilateral ties and weighed plans for promotion of bilateral and multilateral economic relations.
At the beginning of the meeting, Foreign Minister Zarif paid tribute to the late foreign minister of Syria Walid al-Muallem, congratulated Foreign Minister Mikdad on his new post, and expressed readiness for cooperation with the new Syrian foreign minister.
Zarif also expressed satisfaction with the continuation of the political process in Syria, reaffirmed Iran’s support for the Astana Process, and said he was positive about a recent conference on the return of Syrian refugees.
Expounding on the situation and the recent developments in the region, Foreign Minister Zarif stressed the need for vigilance and consultations among Iran, Syria and other countries.
For his part, Foreign Minister MIkdad conveyed condolences from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the Syrian people to the Iranian government and nation for the martyrdom of Iranian scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh and top commander Lt. General Qassem Soleimani, paying tribute to the two revered martyrs.
The visiting foreign minister also expressed gratitude to the Islamic Republic of Iran for the constant supports for Syria in the fight against terrorism and extremism.
Mikdad then denounced the U.S.’ anomalous activities in the region that have escalated the tensions, saying they reveal that the Zionist regime’s interests have priority over the U.S.’ interests in the region.
He finally underlined the Syrian government’s determination to keep fighting against terrorism, saying mutual cooperation between Damascus and Tehran is significant in this approach and is considered as a basic step in restoration of peace and calm to Syria.
Mikdad is to meet other Iranian officials.
He was appointed on November 22 as Syria’s foreign minister after the death of the country’s foreign minister Walid al-Muallem. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad issued presidential decrees appointing Mekdad as foreign minister, Bashar al-Jaafari as deputy foreign minister, and Bassam al-Sabbagh as Syria’s permanent representative to the United Nations.
