Iran's new FM meets Syria's Assad in Damascus for 'economic terrorism' talks
Iran's new Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian arrived in Damascus on Sunday for talks with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad.
Amir-Abdollahian held talks with leading Syrian regime officials about economic cooperation, US sanctions and the war in Syria.
The hardline Iranian politician arrived in the Syrian capital after attending a security conference in Iraq on Saturday with regional leaders, briefing Assad on the talks, according to Syrian state media.
SANA news agency reported: "Minister Abdollahian briefed President al-Assad on the outcomes of 'The Cooperation and Partnership' Conference held recently in Baghdad, with the two sides affirming that the region’s future is made by the will of its people, and that constructive cooperation with other countries can be achieved through responding to their will away from interfering in the internal affairs of their countries."
Assad and Amir-Abdollahian also discussed US sanctions on Syria and Iran, and ways to boost trade between the two countries, SANA added.
The Iranian foreign minister met other leading figures including his Syrian counterpart Faisal Mekdad.
Iran has been a key backer of the Syrian regime in its war against rebels, sending thousands of militia fighters to help prop up Assad.
Assad's brutal war on opposition areas - including the use of chemical weapons and mass killings - has led to US sanctions on entities linked to the Syrian regime.
Iran is also subject to a US embargo related to its nuclear programme and interference in regional conflicts.