Syria’s president has hailed Iran as part of the solution to problems in the region as he meets Iran’s foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, in Damascus.
Bashar al-Assad said collective regional efforts are needed to resolve problems in the region, noting Damascus would welcome any solution that would keep Syria away from war. The Iranian minister, for his part, condemned Israeli violations of Syria’s territorial integrity. He said the silence of western countries, which claim to advocate human rights, exposes their double standards. Regarding Turkey’s plan to launch a military operation inside Syria, Amir-Abdollahian said Iran understands Turkey’s security concerns, but opposes any form of military action in the Arab country.