Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (L) is greeted by Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran on Monday. Photo: SANA / AFP

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Monday on his first visit to the Islamic republic since the Syrian conflict began.

During the meeting, Assad thanked Iran for its support during the conflict, according to the Syrian presidency’s account on the Telegram messaging app.

The leaders “reviewed the fraternal and strong relations between their two peoples, which have been the main factor in maintaining Syria and Iran in the face of plots by enemy countries,” the presidency said.

Khamenei told Assad that “Iran considers helping the government and nation of Syria to be helping the resistance movement and is proud of it from the bottom of its heart,” his website said.

“The creation of the buffer that the Americans are seeking to create in Syria is an example of these dangerous conspiracies which must be strongly denounced and resisted,” Khamenei added.

Assad also met with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani during his trip.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran as before will be alongside the people and government of Syria,” the Iranian government’s official website quoted Rouhani as saying.

Iran and Russia have been the key allies supporting Assad as he has fought to maintain his grip on Syria during nearly eight years of fighting that has claimed more than 360,000 lives.

– with reporting by Agence France-Presse

Join the Conversation

222 Comments

  1. I was recommended this web site through my cousin. I am now not certain whether or not this publish is written via him as no one else understand such exact about my problem. You are incredible! Thank you!|

  2. Howdy! I know this is somewhat off-topic but I had to ask. Does building a well-established blog like yours take a massive amount work? I’m completely new to operating a blog but I do write in my journal daily. I’d like to start a blog so I can share my personal experience and views online. Please let me know if you have any ideas or tips for new aspiring bloggers. Appreciate it!|

  3. Can I just say what a relief to find someone who actually knows what theyre talking about on the internet. You definitely know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More people need to read this and understand this side of the story. I cant believe youre not more popular because you definitely have the gift.

  4. Good blog you have here.. It’s difficult to find high-quality
    writing like yours nowadays. I seriously appreciate individuals like you!
    Take care!!