• 

Iran is ready to provide the Syrian Armed Forces with sophisticated defensive weapons, Iranian Defense Minister General Mohammadreza Ashtiani said on Monday during a meeting with his Syrian counterpart, Lieutenant General Ali Abbas.

The time has come to rebuild Syria after the end of the foreign-backed militancy in the country, Ashtiani said, stressing that Syria would see a boom in numerous sectors, the Iranian IRNA news agency reported.

Moreover, the Iranian defense minister underlined his country's defensive efforts in the quadripartite Moscow summit aimed at bringing about peace in the Syrian Arab Republic.

"Iran is ready to cooperate with Syria in building factories and launching production lines for strategic defense products in order to enhance the security of the Syrian people and establish multilateral defense infrastructure," he stressed.

Boosting Syria's defense capabilities important

Abbas, meanwhile, underlined that Syria's security and stability were enhanced due to the support of the Iranian people and its true allies.

"Boosting Syria's defense infrastructure will make it more prepared to combat terrorism as a key member of the Axis of Resistance," he added.

Abbas also underlined his appreciation and gratitude for the support being given by the Iranian Ministry of Defense in terms of defensive diplomacy, adding that "the enemies are sparing no effort to hurt the brotherly and friendly relations between Syria and Iran."

Tehran to rehabilitate, modernize Syria airports

The head of the Iranian Civil Aviation Organization, Mohammad Mohammadi-Bakhsh, revealed that there has been an uptick in flights between Iran and Syria, indicating that Tehran would rehabilitate and modernize Syria's airports, including the Damascus airport.

Mohammadi-Bakhsh reportedly touched on the recent visit of the Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development to Damascus, stressing that the visit took place in the capacity of the minister as head of the Iranian side in the joint economic committee with Syria, according to the Iranian Tasnim agency.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi stated that Iran, which has previously supported Syria, will continue to do so in the future, adding that his nation is resolved to help the Syrian people and the Axis of Resistance. 

Raisi highlighted that his two-day visit to Syria was a turning point in the expansion of economic, trade, political, and security relations between the two countries.

The Iranian president stated in an interview with SANA and Syria TV on Friday that Syria's attitude was correct, because Syria, despite threats and sanctions, resists the powers of global arrogance in order to establish justice and peace.

The Iranian head of state detailed that Syria was not a poor country, but rather rich in its agriculture, people, and resources, and that it could witness massive economic growth. He added that the US and some Western nations allied with "Israel" were unable to weaken Syrian military so they are weakening its economy, asserting that the US will be defeated through the "resistance of the Syrian people as the victory will be their ally.” 

Read next: President Al-Assad holds talks with President Raisi in Damascus

Moreover, Raisi highlighted the necessity of ensuring that the Syrian government gains full rights to "sovereignty and territorial integrity over the entirety of its land."

"Resistance factions, the steadfast people of Syria, President Bashar Al-Assad, and the Syrian government have proven their resilience against the attacks of ISIS and US-made terror groups."

Raisi also slammed US involvement in aiding terror groups in Syria and the US administration's decision to assassinate General Qassem Soleimani, "The self-proclaimed fighters against terrorism martyred the hero of the anti-terror battle, General Qassem Soleimani. They should be held accountable before world public opinion."