Supporting Syria a Strategic Decision

Helping Syria to weather the current crisis and fight terrorism is the Islamic Republic of Iran’s strategic decision, a deputy foreign minister said.

In a meeting with Syria’s visiting Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad in Tehran on Monday, Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Jaberi Ansari assured Syria of the Islamic Republic’s continued support in the battle against terrorism, describing it as a strategic decision made by Tehran, Tasnim News Agency reported. He denounced certain regional and international players for using terrorism as a means to achieve their political objectives. Mekdad described counterterrorism efforts as a necessity for regional cooperation and took a swipe at the West for lack of seriousness in fighting the self-styled Islamic State terrorist group.

Syria has been gripped by civil war since March 2011 with various terrorist groups, including IS, currently controlling parts of it. Iran has remained a close ally of Syria and supports its government in the face of foreign-backed militancy.