Syria hopes to expand ties with Iran after Rouhani's elections
By Nehal El-Sherif, dpa
Cairo (dpa) - Damascus hopes to strengthen its ties with Tehran, President Bashar al-Assad said Sunday in congratulating Hassan Rouhani on being elected president of Iran.
Syria's state-run SANA news agency said al-Assad also expressed determination to cooperate in all fields, "in the face of aggression, hegemony schemes and the attack on a national sovereignty in our region".
Iran is a key supporter of the al-Assad regime, which rebels are seeking to oust. Tehran also backs Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite group backing Damascus in the conflict that has claimed more than 92,000 lives by UN estimates.
SANA also quoted Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi as hailing Iran's presidential election was "a true reflection of real democracy" and thanking its people and leadership for their support to Syria.
Al-Halqi made the comments in a meeting in Damascus with Hassan Kazemi Qomi, an advisor in Iran's foreign ministry, the news agency said. He also stressed Damascus' desire to broaden relations with Tehran under the new leadership, SANA said.
Qomi was quoted as saying the fact an Iranian economic delegation visited Syria so soon after the polls sent "a strong message to the world that the Islamic Republic of Iran, under its new leadership, will stand by Syria, as an ally and supporter, like it has always been on different levels."
Earlier, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in a message to Rouhani welcomed his election.
"Your election, this political epic, revived the hopes and aspirations of Iranian people. It also renewed great hopes from your friends [among the] Arab and Islamic peoples," Nasrallah said.
Those "who have always seen the Islamic Republic as a supporter of the oppressed" and the mujahideen "who fight for God, consider you today a beacon of hope," he added.
The opposition Syrian National Coalition on Saturday urged Rouhani to "recognize the will of the Syrian people."
"With its continued support for Assad, Iran has used all political, military, and economic means to block Syrians from achieving democracy and freedom," the coalition said.
"The Syrian Coalition also hopes that Iran recognizes the Syrian people's plight for free elections, rights and freedoms and that it halts all support to the oppressive Assad regime."
