Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian arrived in Damascus on 9 October, where he met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to discuss relations between the two countries.

“Our ties with Syria are strategic and we are trying to expand our cooperation with the country in all fields. Syria is on the path of development and progress, and on this path, Iran will strongly stand by Damascus, as it did during the war on terrorists,” Amir-Abdollahian told reporters upon his arrival to Damascus.

“In recent weeks, important agreements have been reached on the comprehensive development of Iran–Syria relations,” he added. “Our bilateral agreements will be implemented quickly and the two nations will benefit from them.”

Syria is Amir-Abdollahian’s third destination in a diplomatic trip that has included visits to Russia and Lebanon.

Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad said that Damascus supports both Iran’s nuclear energy program and its stance in negotiations with the West, and that the Syrian administration opposes the US blockade on Tehran.

Both Iran and Syria are the targets of crushing US economic sanctions that Washington uses to push for regime change in countries it deems adversarial to their interests.

Syria has been the target of a debilitating western-sponsored war since 2011. During the conflict, the US has provided uninterrupted military assistance to fighters affiliated with ISIS and Al Qaeda.

In recent months, and with the support of Iran and Russia, Syrian government forces have managed to win back control of almost all of Syria’s southern regions from the grip of western-backed militias.