Iran: Assad's visit opens new chapter of strategic relations

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Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on Sunday that the visit by President Assad has opened up a new chapter in the strategic ties between Iran and Syria and that his country is determined to enhance its bilateral relationship with Damascus with the "triumph of Syria's resistance."

The Iranian FM added in his tweet that Iran will continue to stand with Syria in its fight against terrorism and extremism.

Visit by President Assad and his fruitful meetings with Leader and President Raisi open new chapter in 🇮🇷🇸🇾 strategic ties.

Determined to enhance our bilateral relationship with triumph of Syria's resistance.

We'll continue to stand w/ 🇸🇾 in fight against terrorism & extremism.

— H.Amirabdollahian امیرعبداللهیان (@Amirabdolahian) May 8, 2022

Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad arrived in Tehran on a surprise visit on Sunday morning and met with Iranian leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.

This was the Syrian President's second visit to Iran since the war on Syria began in 2011.

Iranian leader praised Syria's President for his steadfastness during the foreign-backed war on the country, saying, “Today, Syria is not the same Syria that it was before the war, although the devastation [of war] was not there at that time, now Syria enjoys a higher degree of respect and credit and all countries look upon it as a power."

Khatibzadeh: Committed to diplomacy to reach a lasting deal

Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Saeed Khatibzadeh, said on Monday during his weekly press conference that his country is committed to diplomacy to reach a strong, lasting, and trustworthy deal, stressing that reaching a deal is possible once Washington makes a decision regarding the remaining issues.

Khatibzadeh clarified that negotiations are still ongoing through the exchange of messages since no more meetings are being held in Vienna, adding that negotiations have not reached a dead-end. The top Iranian diplomat noted that the US will not be giving Iran a present by returning to the deal because it wasted the rights of the Iranian people and must restore them.

The Spokesperson also said the US' maximum pressure policy is the main reason behind the current situation in the talks and stressed that no mechanism that keeps Iran from using the JCPOA in its full capacity will be accepted. He further declared that reducing the remaining issues in Vienna to removing the IRGC from the US list of "terror organizations" is part of the psychological war.

Mora's visit does not signify a new message

Regarding the visit of the coordinator of the Vienna Talks, Enrique Mora, to Tehran, Khatibzadeh said negotiations between Iran and the P4+1 have been ongoing, and as such Mora is expected to meet with the Deputy Foreign Minister and lead negotiator, Ali Bagheri Kani.

The Spokesperson also clarified that Mora's visit does not mean that there will be a new message, as all parties continue to exchange messages. A number of meetings will be held, with Mora, Bagheri Kani, and a number of Iranian officials attending, and it is hoped that these talks will lead to a result.

Mora will visit Tehran next week.

Iranian frozen funds

Khatibzadeh addressed the matter of Iran's frozen assets, saying that Tehran is not betting on the efforts of any third party to release its frozen assets, asserting that diplomatic efforts are still ongoing and that the US took these assets from the Iranian people and must return them.

A visit by Qatar's Emir to Tehran

Regarding the Iran-Saudi talks, Khatibzadeh said that nothing new has taken place after the last talks with Saudi Arabia, and it is hoped that the agreement that was last reached would be implemented and any new developments will be reported.

He also said that Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has an upcoming visit to Tehran and commented that Qatar has always supported Iran in regional issues.

Khatibzadeh also announced that the Iranian President will visit a Gulf country in the next few weeks.

Regarding Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad's visit to Tehran, he said that it had been coordinated some time ago and that the message behind it is that Damascus has begun a new phase in the region.