Iran will continue supporting Syria in fighting terrorism: Rouhani

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani vows that Tehran will continue supporting Syria in the fight against terrorism and to restore security to the region.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran will continue helping Syria in the fight against terrorism and for the establishment of security in the region,” Rouhani said in a meeting with Syrian Parliament Speaker Hadiya Khalaf Abbas in Tehran on Tuesday.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran regards maintaining territorial integrity and unity of all regional countries such as Syria as a basic principle,” he added, saying that Tehran believes redrawing borders will never be beneficial to the region.

The Iranian president expressed regret that many Muslim countries in the region have been targeted by enemies’ plots and said that people in different countries including Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Libya and Afghanistan are suffering from difficult conditions and big problems.

The Iranian chief executive said delivering humanitarian aid to people is the most important priority in Syria, adding, "The Islamic Republic of Iran is committed to its principles and, since terrorism is a big problem for the region and the world, believes that Syrian people must be provided with aid in order to [help them] drive out terrorism from their country,” Rouhani said.

He expressed hope that negotiations between the Syrian government and those opposition groups, which are committed to the country’s independence, in addition to the will of the Syrian nation would lead to a political solution and comprehensive agreement as soon as possible.

The Iranian president also expressed confidence that the Syrian people would be the final victors in this battle.

Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura estimates that over 400,000 people have been killed in the conflict.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem said on Monday that the Damascus is ready to engage in initiatives that could lead to the establishment of a unity government in the war-torn country.

He added that the Syrian government has proposed a political roadmap that could put an end to more than five years of war in the Arab country.

In recent months, the Takfiri militants have suffered major setbacks as the Syrian army has managed to liberate several areas.

'Iran always supported Syria in all fields'

The Syrian parliament speaker, for her part, said Iran has always stood by her country in all fields, particularly in the fight against terrorism.

She added that only the Syrian people must decide their country’s future, urging big powers and the US to make efforts to put an end to terrorism as a threat to all countries in the world.

The Syrian parliament speaker arrived in Tehran on Monday at the invitation of her Iranian counterpart, Ali Larijani, to hold talks with senior Iranian officials. Earlier in the day, she attended a joint press conference and a meeting with Larijani and held talks with Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior advisor to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

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