Tehran rejects occupation of Syria, presence of terrorists in country: Envoy

Iran’s ambassador to Syria Mahdi Sobhani said the Islamic Republic strongly rejects any form of occupation of Syria’s soil, be it the Golan Heights or elsewhere, and believes that all foreign forces will finally have to leave the West Asian country.

In an interview with Lebanon’s al-Ahed news website published on Saturday, he highlighted the necessity of changing the prevailing mentality about the security situation in Syria, saying the illegal presence of all occupying and terrorist forces must come to an end.

“Iran strongly condemns the occupation of Syria by any country or force, be it the Golan [Heights], or [any region] in the northwest or northeast of Syria,” the ambassador said.

‘US will have to leave Syria’

According to Sobhani, Syria’s enemies need to realize that their policy toward the country has failed and brought nothing but harm and destruction to regional nations.

“The [US] forces will be forced to leave Syrian territories. We cannot specify a time for this, but it must and will happen,” Iran's ambassador said.

The envoy added that unlike the Cold War era, when great powers determined the end game in West Asia, new powers are currently in control of the region’s affairs.

“The US is no longer able to determine the fate of the region as new powers have emerged, including the Axis of Resistance,” he elaborated, stressing that the regional game has completely changed.

‘Iran, Syria face economic war’

Elaborating on the Tehran-Damascus economic and trade cooperation, Sobhani said in recent months, Damascus has hosted a number of exhibitions, which were attended by around 120 Iranian companies. This, he said, demonstrates Syria’s security and stability.

“The economic and trade cooperation between Iran and Syria and Iran’s participation in the reconstruction of Syria are important issues, because both countries are now at a sensitive juncture.”

The ambassador added that both Iran and Syria are grappling with an economic war, which includes extensive illegal sanctions imposed on them.

“Therefore, more focus must be put on economic and trade aspects of relations between Iran and Syria”, Sobhani said.

SS