Process of Fighting Terrorism in Idleb Will Continue according to an Accurate Plan: al-Mikdad

DAMASCUS, (ST)-  Iranian Foreign Minister’s senior aide for Political Affairs Ali Asghar Khaji  described the talks he held with senior Syrian officials in Damascus today as “very constructive”.

 Speaking to journalists on Tuesday following his meeting with Deputy Premier, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Walid al-Moallem, said that discussions dealt mainly with the need to reactivate and enhance strategic relations and boost cooperation in all domains.

 On his part, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Faysal al-Mikdad told reporters that the relations between Syria and Iran are strategic, stressing that the escalated situation in the region necessitates more coordination and mutual visits by both sides.

Israeli aggression aimed at protecting terrorists

Replaying a question about the recent Israeli aggression on Syria, al-Mikdad said that “Syria is fighting Israel everywhere through fighting its terrorist tools in the country, pointing out that the aggression aimed to protect Israel’s tools, particularly as it came after the achievements realized by the Syrian Arab Army and its allies in the fight against terrorism.

Al-Mikdad affirmed that Syria is always ready to retaliate against Israeli aggression twice as harsh and it won’t be silent about its rights, calling for caution because the region is in need for calming down not for escalation.

He pointed out that the process of fighting terrorism in Idleb will continue and it is being carried out according to an accurate plan, stressing that Idleb’s return to the homeland is the main factor for the return of stability in this region.

Regarding cooperation between Syria and Iran to face the impacts of sanctions imposed on the two countries, al-Mikdad said “there are hundreds of economic and political agreements with Iran and today we discussed the principles for reactivating them and boosting cooperation in the face of the harsh sanctions the two countries are being exposed to”.

 He affirmed that these sanctions are inhuman and they amount to war crimes as they have negative impacts on the peoples of the two countries.

Al-Mikdad reiterated the need not to make concession even though sanctions are intensified, stressing the importance of work with allies to avoid any negative impacts of these sanctions.

Hamda Mustafa