Iran’s Salehi meets Syrian president

Iran’s caretaker Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has discussed the latest regional developments with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus.

During a Monday meeting, Salehi and Assad stressed the importance of strengthening bilateral ties, read Foreign Ministry statement.

The two sides underlined the importance of expanding ties in the transportation sector as well as energy transfer and helping the spared of this cooperation to other regional countries.

The two officials hailed the formation of the new Iraqi government after the parliamentary elections in March left the war-torn nation in a political impasse.

Salehi, who arrived in Damascus on Sunday, earlier discussed the bilateral relations between the two countries with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem.

The Iranian official also met with Hamas political bureau chief Khaled Meshaal and Secretary General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command Ahmed Jibril at the Iranian Embassy in Damascus.

Tehran and Damascus have common stances on many regional and international issues. In recent years, the two countries have stepped up efforts to improve relations in various areas.

Bilateral trade between the two countries currently stands at USD 3 billion and is expected to reach USD 5 billion in the near future.