Syria’s Victories Prelude to US Withdrawal from East of Euphrates: Iran’s Velayati

TEHRAN – Ali Akbar Velayati, an international adviser to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, hailed Syria’s recent military achievements against foreign-backed terrorists and said the US forces will soon have to leave the Arab country’s areas lying east of the Euphrates river, Tasnim News Agency reported.

Speaking at a meeting with Syrian Minister of Higher Education Atef Nadaf in Tehran on Tuesday, Velayati offered his congratulations over the recent victories of the Syrian army and allied forces in southern parts of the country, particularly in Daraa.

 “The main enemies of Iran and Syria, namely the US, Israel and reactionary countries of the region, continue their hostilities toward Syria’s independent government and people,” he said at the meeting.

  “Through their aggressive nature, Americans have stationed thousands of troops in the eastern Euphrates region without receiving the approval of the UN Security Council or the Syrian government’s request for help,” Velayati stated.

“Undoubtedly, the recent victory of the Syrian army in south of the country will be a starting point for your future victories in the eastern Euphrates (region) and the withdrawal of the US from this region,” he added.

The senior Iranian official renewed his country’s support for Syria in all fields including education, medicine and scientific research.

“The Islamic university of Azad is fully ready to cooperate with Syria’s Ministry of Higher Education and the Syrian universities in the area of exchanging expertise and granting scholarships for Syrian Masters and PH.D students,” Velayati said, according to SANA.   

Nadaf, for his part, hailed the results of his ongoing trip to Tehran and expressed his gratitude for the Islamic Republic’s support for the Syrian government’s anti-terrorism campaign.

Syria, Iran ink MoU on cooperation in higher education and scientific research

In the same context, Syria and Iran inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in the field of higher education and medical research.

The Memo was signed in Tehran on Tuesday by Minister of Higher Education Dr. Atef Nadaf and Iranian Deputy Minister of Health, Treatment and Medical Education for Education Affairs Baqer Larijani in the Presence of Syria’s Ambassador to Iran Dr. Adnan Mahmoud.

According to SANA, the MoU includes cooperation in the field of supporting twinship agreements in accordance with the regulations in force in both countries and the exchange of university students, researchers and professors to participate in scientific and medical activities in both countries.

It also provides for enhancing cooperation in medical fields, boosting the skills of delegates and excelled students and training in various medical and pharmaceutical specialties such as, neurosurgery, orthopedic and cardiology and women surgery, liver transplantation, biomedical sciences, stem cells and laser technology.

Contribution in rebuilding Syrian educational institutions and hospitals universities and granting  scholarships in the context of meeting the needs of the plan of the Ministry of Higher Education in Syria in the Masters and PhD were also included in the Memo.

The MoU also included the formation of educational and research work groups and the exchange of visits between the two sides with the aim of following up the implementation of the program.

Hamda Mustafa