Syrian Prime Minister Wael Nader al-Halqi highlighted the importance of cooperation between Iran and Syria in strengthening the resistance front against US-Israeli plots in the Middle East.
"Iran-Syria all-out cooperation has strengthened the front of resistance and perseverance against Zionist-American schemes for the region," Halqi said in a meeting with an Iranian parliamentary delegation in the Syrian capital Damascus on Sunday, according to Syria's official news agency, SANA.
Halqi pointed to the historical and strategic ties between the Islamic Republic and Syria, saying that Tehran-Damascus bilateral ties have played a significant role in strengthening the Syrian nation and the resistance front against unjust economic sanctions by the West. He expressed gratitude to the Iranian nation for their support of the Syrian people. Amir Khojasteh, head of the Iranian parliamentary delegation, reiterated that the Islamic Republic will continue to stand by the Syrian nation and government in their battle against terrorist groups.
Khojasteh, who is the chairman of Majlis Councils and Internal Affairs Committee, said he was confident the Syrian people will emerge victorious in the fight against the enemies and rebuild their country without any foreign meddling.
Earlier in the day, Khojasteh met with Syria's Parliament Speaker Jihad al-Lahham, hoping that "victory" would be close for Syria over the self-styled Islamic State terrorist group.
"The world's infidels, global arrogance, Zionists and some governments in the region have backed Daesh [an Arabic acronym for IS] and Takfiris [extremists who accuse followers of some Islamic sects of heresy]; they helped them grow and then sent them to Syria in the hope of bringing about the collapse of Syria and the Syrian government in two to three months. But for five years now the people of Syria and the government of Syria have resisted and, God willing, victory is close," he said.
The Iranian parliamentarian criticized the countries that created IS and caused the death of many Syrians, adding that the terrorists are now returning home and causing instability there.
Khojasteh congratulated Damascus on its liberation of the ancient city of Palmyra.
Palmyra had fallen to IS last May. The Syrian Army, backed by popular defense groups and the Russian air power, recently regained control of the city after about four weeks of fierce fighting with the terrorists. Syrian soldiers have now been clearing bombs and landmines planted in Palmyra by IS.
The Syrian Army has vowed to press ahead with its counter-terror military operations and drive IS elements out of their major strongholds in the conflict-ridden Arab country. Syria has been gripped by militancy since 2011. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says at least 270,000 people have since been killed in the war-ravaged country. However, some reports put the death toll as high as 470,000.
