Sabbagh, Araqchi hold a press Conference in Tehran

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Bassam Sabbagh has stressed that the escalation of the Israeli occupation entity’s aggression against the region is part of an old American-Zionist project to reshape this region, and terrorist tools are being used for this purpose. He has also stressed the need that the international community should assume its responsibilities to stop the aggression and eliminate terrorism in all its forms, and that the support of some countries for the Israeli entity should stop to maintain stability in the entire region.

He made the remarks on Tuesday during a joint press conference with his Iranian Counterpart Abbas Araqchi following their talks in Tehran which focused on the strategic relations between Syria and Iran and on developments in the region in the light of the Israeli aggression on some of the region’s countries.

“We reviewed the dangerous developments resulting from the escalating brutal Israeli aggression against the countries of the region, which began on October 7, 2023, against the Palestinian people and extended to include Lebanon and coincided with repeated attacks on Syrian territory, the number of which reached more than 130 attacks, including the attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, and later on Iranian territory,” Sabbagh said. He affirmed Syria’s support for Iran’s legitimate right to defend itself and protect its territory and people.

Sabbagh pointed out that the points of view are in agreement regarding the necessity of an immediate and unconditional stopping of the Israeli aggression, condemning the war crimes and genocide committed by the Zionist entity, and demanding that the perpetrators be held accountable and punished.

He emphasized the right of peoples to resist all forms of occupation, as well as the right of Syria and Iran to defend themselves and protect their lands and the lives of their citizens against any aggression, reiterating the necessity of ending the Israeli occupation of the Arab lands occupied in 1967, including the Syrian Golan, as this region will not enjoy security and stability except with the end of the occupation.

Sabbagh pointed out that the talks also addressed the current cooperation between the two countries in combating terrorism and drying up its sources, and it was stressed that eliminating terrorism in all its forms is an urgent necessity to serve the security and stability of the region and thus global security and peace, pointing to the importance of exposing the role played by some countries in supporting terrorist organizations and using them as a tool to serve their destructive agendas.

Sabbagh explained that during the talks, the two sides emphasized rejection of foreign interference in the internal affairs of the two countries, and stressed the need to expose the destructive practices of some countries against them, most notably the illegal unilateral coercive measures imposed on them, explaining that the two countries are working together to confront these inhumane measures and mitigate their disastrous impacts on their peoples.

For his part, Araqchi said: “We discussed bilateral relations between Iran and Syria at all levels,” stressed that Iran will continue to stand by Syria.

He added: “We condemn the Israeli attacks on Syrian territories and the US theft of the Syrian people’s wealth”, stressing the need to respect Syria’s sovereignty and stopping support for terrorist organizations.

Araqchi also said: “Syria is currently facing an economic crisis, yet it hosts about 500,000 displaced people from Lebanon. We will provide all possible assistance in this regard and call on the international community to help as well”.

Hamda Mustafa/ Raghda Sawas