Damascus, 4 May 2023 (GNP): Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi and his delegation, consisting of government officials and private sector businessmen, have arrived in Syria for a two-day visit.
This marks the first visit by an Iranian president to Damascus since 2010. Raisi met with his Syrian counterpart, Bashar al-Assad, and the Iranian delegation includes ministers from various sectors such as foreign affairs, defense, oil, and telecommunications.
Syria’s economy has suffered greatly in the past decade, with high inflation, currency depreciation, and frequent power outages, making the deals with Iran crucial for the country.
Before his visit, Raisi called for reconstruction efforts and the return of Syrian refugees who fled the war. During their meeting, Raisi praised al-Assad’s ability to overcome the challenges and threats imposed by sanctions, indicating strong support from the Iranian leadership for the Syrian president. The visit is seen as a sign of this backing.
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Raisi’s primary objective in visiting Syria is to enhance the “axis of resistance” against Israel’s perceived threat, as well as to bolster economic ties and assist in the country’s post-war reconstruction efforts, according to Jabbari.
Israel has conducted numerous airstrikes against Iran-backed groups and Hezbollah militants in Syrian territory, and Iranian officials view their assistance to Syria as support for a country that is vulnerable to such attacks.
Raisi’s visit coincides with a recent trend of Arab countries, such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia, beginning to restore ties with al-Assad’s government.
Saudi Arabia, which had supported the Syrian opposition, received a visit from Syria’s foreign minister in April, marking the first such visit since the two countries severed ties in 2012. Additionally, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed in March to restore diplomatic relations and reopen their embassies after years of tensions, with the help of China’s mediation.
