Iranian VP met with Assad and Syrian officials signing 11 agreements and memoranda of understanding in areas of infrastructure, construction, investment and much more; Netanyahu met with senior Russian officials on Iran and Syria.
Syria and Iran announced several new trade and reconstruction agreements, both countries signing 11 agreements and memoranda of understanding in Damascus on Tuesday.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met with Iran’s First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri in Damascus over two days, their meetings centered on increasing bilateral ties and agreements on Syria’s reconstruction. The agreements are in trade, infrastructure development, investment, among many others, and include a bilateral “strategic economic treaty”. According to reports from Syria, the agreements include the reconstruction of strategic Syrian ports in Latakia and Tartus as well as a large-scale energy plant.
Jahangiri reiterated Iran’s commitment to work “alongside Syria during the next phase that will be marked by reconstruction,” in what the United Nations has estimated to cost $400 billion. President Assad stated on the agreements and strategic bilateral ties Tuesday, “[they] will help consolidate Syrian and Iranian resilience against the economic war waged against them by some Western states.”
Gulf States, Iran and Russia continue their efforts to gain contracts and control of Syria’s reconstruction. Just last week, the United Arab Emirates held an economic forum in Abu Dhabi where Syrian contractors and businessmen were invited. Russia and Iran continue to hold ongoing meetings with their Syrian counterparts on reconstruction deals and agreements.
Meanwhile in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with senior Russian officials on Syria and Iran in Jerusalem as part of Russia and Israel’s military coordination on Syria on Tuesday. Netanyahu, alongside his security advisor, Meir Ben-Shabbat, and Commander of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Operations Directorate, Maj.-Gen. Aharon Haliva, met with President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy for Syrian affairs, Alexander Lavrentiev, and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin.
The Office of the Prime Minister confirmed their meeting centered on Iran and Syria, reporting Wednesday, “Among the issues discussed were Iran and the situation in Syria, and strengthening the security coordination mechanism between the militaries in order to prevent friction. The Russian representatives reiterated Russia’s commitment to the maintenance of Israel’s national security.”
Prior to their meeting, the Russian delegation met with Israel’s Foreign Affairs Ministry Director General Yuval Rotem, who confirmed, “We had a meaningful & insightful discussion about a variety of regional issues.”
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