Iran, Syria strike several economic deals

The deals were struck in the Syrian capital Damascus on Monday during a visit by Iran's First Vice President Es'haq Jahangiri, who was on a two-day trip to the Arab country at the head of a high-ranking delegation.

 

Detailing the agreements, Jahangiri said the two sides had come to "very important agreements on banking cooperation."

 

Syrian Prime Minister Imad Khamis also announced that the countries had inked a "unique" agreement enabling long-term economic cooperation.

 

The countries also signed several memorandums of understanding addressing education, housing, public services, railways, and investment among other areas. Khamis called the MoU’s "historic."

"We will be by Syria's side in the reconstruction phase as we have been by its side in fighting terrorism," Jahangiri said.

He was referring to the military advisory support, which the Islamic Republic has been lending Syria since 2011, when the

Arab nation found itself in the grip of rampant foreign-backed militancy.

 

The assistance, delivered at Syria’s request, besides contribution to Syria’s anti-terror efforts by its other allies, including Russia, helped Damascus turn the tables on the militants and Takfiri terrorists in the conflict.

Damascus’ triumph in the face of the violence has prompted admissions from some of the same countries fueling it that the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has regained control of the country.

Some regional Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, have even reopened their embassies in Damascus, with more announcing the intention to follow suit.