Iran Press/ Middle East: Speaking at a news conference after meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mikdad in Damascus, Iran's foreign minister Hossein Amir- Abdollahian added: "Today, in the meeting with Bashar al-Assad, we discussed important bilateral issues of strategic and international relations."
Amir- Abdollahian said: "Bashar al- Assad invited Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi to visit Damascus and we are trying to arrange the trip in the future."
He also referred to his meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mikdad and said: "In the meeting, we discussed ways to increase economic and commercial relations between the two countries in the private and public sectors."
Faisal Mikdad also referred to Amir- Abdollahian's trip to Damascus and said:" The visit takes place in the shadow of new developments in the region. The challenges underway from Western countries, the US, the racist Zionist regime, and their mercenaries in the region and the world."
He added: "Since the victory of the 1979 revolution in Iran, the challenges have continued until today, which means that countries that want to secure their national interests must face these challenges."
Mikdad added: "I must thank the Islamic Republic for its efforts to improve relations with Syria."
In response to a question about the differences between Iran and Syria that delayed economic agreements, the Syrian top diplomat said: "We are trying to develop the relations between the two countries. Look at the inhuman sanctions imposed by America against Syria, what would happen to Syria if it did not have an alliance like Iran?"
While rejecting such differences, Amir- Abdollahian said that the relations between the two countries are in the best state. We should try to bring together excellent political cooperation and excellent commercial and economic cooperation.
Amir- Abdollahian underscored: "Many documents have been signed between the two countries and are being implemented. We have no difference that led to the non-signing of a document between the two countries. Today, we agreed to prepare a long-term strategic agreement document between the two countries so that it can be signed in the near future."
No meetings unless Turkyie ends occupation of Syria: Mikdad
The Syrian Foreign Minister says to prepare the grounds for the meetings between Syrian-Turkish top officials, Turkiye must end the occupation of Syrian soil.
Faisal Mikdad told reporters on Saturday evening that since 2011, Syria had made thorough efforts to destroy the terrorism in the country, which caused the break-up of the Syrian-Turkish ties.
In response to the rumors about the potential meeting between Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian FM said the meeting between the two countries' presidents depended on the removal of the causes that led to the status quo.
Yet, he told the reporters about a trilateral meeting between the Defense Ministers of Syria, Russia, and Turkiye, where practical steps were planned to be taken to address the causes that led to the interruption of the relations between Syria and Turkiye.
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Amir-Abdollahian meets Bashar al-Assad
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