Zarif arrives to Syria

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif arrived today, Monday, in Damascus to meet the Syrian Prime Minister Bashar al-Assad in their first meeting in a year.

20 April, 2020 07:36

NEWS DESK

Al Arabiya Network quoted diplomatic sources as saying that the visit aims to deliver a message to the Syrian regime that Tehran will not abandon it.

Zarif's visit comes amid signs that Russia is changing its strategy in Syria with the regime's fluctuating control over some of the areas that have been re-taken, such as Daraa and its progress in the vicinity of Saraqib.

According to the network, Zarif is trying to confirm the presence of an Iranian weight in Syria that matches the Russian weight, in addition to stressing Tehran's adherence to Assad's survival.

Zarif will take a full day to discuss "bilateral relations", "the latest developments in the region", and "field progress" in Syria, according to a statement by the Iranian Foreign Ministry. Zarif will also meet during his visit, his counterpart Walid al-Muallem.

Zarif met al-Assad on a previous visit to Damascus on April 16, 2019.

T/S

ANHA