Assad to Rouhani: Iran nuclear deal boosts Tehran's position in region, world

Syrian president says Rouhani has succeeded in enshrining rights of developing countries to pursue nuclear energy.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Syrian President Bashar Assad 370 (photo credit: Reuters)
Syrian President Bashar Assad 370
(photo credit: Reuters)
Syrian President Bashar Assad called his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday, congratulating him on the interim agreement Tehran signed with the West over the weekend in regard to its nuclear program.
According to Syria's official news agency, SANA, Assad hailed Rouhani's achievement as enshrining the rights of developing countries to pursue peaceful nuclear energy. He added that the deal boosts Iran's position both in the region and internationally.
Assad posited that the agreement would also positively affect Syria because of the close strategic ties between Damascus and Tehran.
According to SANA, Rouhani reaffirmed to Assad his support in Syria's "war against terrorism."
Rouhani met with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Wednesday, saying that the Syria conflict “has no military solution, and the country’s crisis should be ended through serious negotiations,” according to Iranian news agency, Tasnim.
In Syria, Iran is supporting the regime of Assad, while the Turkish government, led by the Islamist AK Party, is supporting the Islamist opposition.
However, Davutoglu said during his visit to Tehran Wednesday that Rouhani would be visiting Turkey in January.
The Turkish foreign minister and his Iranian counterpart Mohamed Javad Zarif issued a joint call Wednesday for for a cease-fire in Syria ahead of peace talks between the factions in its civil war that are scheduled for January 22 in Geneva.
Ariel Ben Solomon contributed to this report.