Deputy FM:

Assad's Survival Owed to Iran's Efforts

TEHRAN (defapress)- Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Seyed Abbas Araqchi underlined his country's high regional power, reminding that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad could keep power despite years of war against terrorist groups with the help of Iran.

News ID: 68132

Date: 17 January 2018 - 15:00

"Iran has never had such a regional might after the Islamic Revolution's victory," Araqchi said, addressing a forum in Tehran on Wednesday.

"The Americans attempted for years to overthrow Bashar Assad but it was Iran which kept him (in power). 4,000 Americans were killed in Iraq but finally a government was empowered which is Iran's ally," he added.

Araqchi referred to the independence referendum in the Iraqi Kurdistan region which was supported by the US, stressing that Tehran prevented Iraq's disintegration.

Also in Yemen, the US and its regional allies wanted to defeat Ansarullah in two months but now they have grown so desperate that they have resorted to the UN Security Council, he added.

His remarks came as Assad also underlined last October that his country will never forget Iran's support to the Syrian government and nation during the difficult times of war.

"Iran has always helped Syria during difficult times," President Assad said in a meeting with Head of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi in Damascus.

The Syrian president also stressed the need for close cooperation among members of the 'resistance axis'.