Syrian Deputy FM Stresses Closer Ties with Iran

Speaking at a meeting with an Iranian delegation led by Amir Khojasteh, the head of the Iranian-Palestinian parliamentary friendship group, in Damascus on Sunday, Mekdad highlighted the important role of Iran-Syria ties in realizing the common goals of the two countries as well as other Islamic countries, and promoting support for the Palestinian cause.

Mekdad also praised the strong relationship between the Iranian parliament and the People's Council of Syria.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Syrian diplomat strongly condemned a recent hostile decision by the US government to label the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) as a “terrorist group”.

US President Donald Trump announced on April 8 that Washington is designating the IRGC a foreign “terrorist organization”, marking the first time the US has formally labeled another country’s military a terrorist group.

On the eve of the Israeli parliamentary elections last week, Prime Minister Netanyahu took credit for Trump’s decision to blacklist IRGC. “Thank you, my dear friend, President Donald Trump,” Netanyahu tweeted in Hebrew, “for answering another one of my important requests.”

Responding to the move, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council immediately declared the US as a state sponsor of terrorism and US forces in the region terrorists.

The SNSC said it has put CENTCOM on its terror list as a “reciprocal measure” against the US “illegal and unwise” move.

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