Iran's FM Hails Tehran-Riyadh Progress During Syria Visit

Iran's foreign minister has spoken of the importance of improved Iran-Saudi relations during an official meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian met the Syrian leader, a close ally to Iran, on Thursday during a two-day visit to the country. The Iranian FM praised the thawing of Iran-Saudi relations as mutually beneficial and regionally significant.

The minister also extended an invitation on behalf of President Ebrahim Raisi, for Assad to visit Tehran whilst expressing satisfaction at the renewed engagement of Syria within the Arab League and the enhancement of Syrian-Arab relations.

This takes place against the backdrop of ongoing reports concerning attacks attributed to Israel on positions affiliated with quasi-military groups linked to the Islamic Republic within Syrian territory.

After Damascus, Amir-Abdollahian will travel to Lebanon for discussions with the leadership of Hezbollah, a proxy militant group associated with Iran.

Amid speculation about potential moves by US forces in Iraq and Syria to address vulnerabilities along the Syrian-Iraqi border, which enables Tehran to transport weapons and fighters through Iraq into Syria, Amir-Abdollahian responded to questions during a press conference by urging US troops to depart from the region. He confidently said, "No party is capable of blocking historic transportation routes."

Furthermore, Amir-Abdollahian slammed Israeli airstrikes targeting sites in Syria and cautioned that such actions would inevitably invite retaliation.