Iran Vows to Keep Supporting Syria in Reconstruction

Jahangiri said that Iran is honored to be spearheading the anti-terror campaign in the region while felicitating the Syrian government and nation for their achievements in the fight against terrorism.

He made the remarks in a meeting between high-ranking delegations of Iran and Syria, co-chaired by him and Syrian Prime Minister Imad Khamis in Damascus on Monday.

Iran's vice president expressed hope that terrorists would be completely eliminated in the Middle East and said, "The international community and the Europeans should know that if it were not for the sacrifices of the Syrian government and people as well as the country's allies, ISIL terrorists would establish a government in the region and would turn into a big and insolvable problem for global security."

The Iranian vice president further said that regional and global security is closely intertwined, emphasizing that the promotion of security in the region leads to enhanced international security.

Jahangiri added that Iran would stand by the Syrian government and nation in the reconstruction plans of the war-stricken country, saying, "Syria has entered a new phase and efforts should be made toward the country's reconstruction."

He noted that Iran is among the countries in the region and across the world that enjoy high capabilities to build power plants and pledged to help Syria in this regard.

Heading a 40-member delegation, the Iranian vice president arrived in the Syrian capital on Monday on a two-day visit to hold talks with senior officials of the Arab country.

Iran is a key ally of Syria. Tehran has been providing military advisory assistance to Damascus in its anti-terror fight.

Khamis, for his part, hailed Iran's support for his country in recent years and said the achievements made by Syria in the war against terrorists were the triumphs of the two countries, the resistance front as well as all countries in the Middle East.

The Syrian prime minister added that the Arab country's government and people would stand up to foreign plots and are optimistic about their future in the light of cooperation with friendly countries.

He noted that the current visit by the high-ranking Iranian delegation to Damascus would provide an opportunity for the expansion of relations in all fields and called on friendly countries to help Syria with its reconstruction plans.

In a related front, early on December 30, Iranian Minister of Road and Urban Development Mohammad Eslami said that Iran and Syria have sealed a strategic agreement.

Eslami invited all Iranian business people to accompany the delegation for talks on the reconstruction process in the Arab country.

He made the announcement at a meeting of Iranian business people with the Syrian Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade Mohammad Samer al-Khalil held at Iran’s Chamber of Commerce.

The Iranian minister said that with the implementation of a strategic economic agreement between Iran and Syria, the condition is ripe for sustainable development of economic and trade relations between the two sides.

He maintained that the meeting will make it easier for a stronger presence of Iranian private sector in Syria, highlighting the need for the participation of Iranian business people in Syria’s projects following the restoration of peace and stability to the Arab country.

He further underscored the participation of the Iranian private sector in Syria’s reconstruction process, referring to plans for taking different measures this time through joint investments.

Senior Iranian officials have repeatedly voiced the Islamic Republic's readiness to help Syria with reconstruction of the war-ravaged country.

In early October, Iran signed an agreement to build a 540-megawatt (MW) gas fired power plant in Syria’s coastal city of Lattakia.

At the request of Damascus, Iran has also been providing military advisory assistance to the Syrian government forces in its fight against foreign-backed Takfiri terrorists.