Syrian PM Appreciates Iran’s Economic, Political Support for Damascus

Syrian Prime Minister Wael Nader al-Halqi hailed Tehran for its political and economic assistance to the Syrian people, and said Syria will send a high-ranking delegation to participate in Iranian President-elect Hassan Rouhani’s inauguration ceremony early August.
Halqi made the remarks in a meeting with Iranian Ambassador to Damascus Mohammad Reza Rao’uf Sheibani in Damascus on Monday.

During the meeting, the two sides stressed the necessity for the further expansion of ties and cooperation between Iran and Syria, and discussed ways to increase economic interactions between the two countries.

They also condemned the attack on the holy shrine of Sayida Zeinab (daughter of Shiite’s first Imam) in Damascus, and called it the result of Takfiri groups’ failure in sowing religious discord among the Syrian people.

Mortar shells struck near the Shiite shrine outside Damascus on Friday, killing its caretaker, the government and activists said.

The state-run news agency said shells fired by rebels fighting against President Bashar Assad landed “in the vicinity” of the revered Sayida Zeinab shrine, killing Anas Roumani, the shrine’s administrative director.

Several people were wounded in the explosion.