Iran, Syria ink 11 cooperation deals

By Muhammet Kursun

TEHRAN (AA) – Iran and Syria have signed 11 cooperation agreements, according to Iranian media on Tuesday.

The deals were inked by Iranian First Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri during his meeting in Damascus with Syrian regime's Prime Minister Imad Khamis.

Iranian media said the agreements aim to boost bilateral cooperation in the fields of economy, culture, trade, energy, infrastructure and housing.

Speaking during his meeting with the Syrian premier, Jahangiri said Iran could be a reliable partner in establishing power plants in Syria.

He said joint railways could be established to connect the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean and to improve trade between Iran and Syria.

Khamis, for his part, said Iranian companies will be given priority in reconstruction projects in Syria.

He said Syria’s railway infrastructure has been destroyed.

Jahangiri is expected to meet Syrian regime leader Bashar al-Assad and Foreign Minister Walid Muallem as part of his visit to Syria.

Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating conflict that began in 2011 when the Bashar al-Assad regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected ferocity.

Hundreds of thousands of civilians have been killed or displaced in the conflict, mainly by regime airstrikes targeting opposition-held areas.