Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi greeted his Syrian counterpart Bassam Al Sabbagh upon arrival in Tehran on November 19, 2024, marking another significant meeting between high-ranking officials from the allied nations.
Sabbagh, who assumed his post in September, is in Tehran for his inaugural visit to engage with Iranian officials, as reported by local media. Later in the day, both diplomats participated in a joint press conference where Araghchi reiterated Iran's steadfast support for Syria and its allied factions in the region.
Araghchi emphasized that 'the Islamic Republic of Iran will always stand with Syria and the axis of resistance,' referring to a coalition of Iran-backed groups opposed to Israel, including Lebanon's Hezbollah and Palestinian militant group Hamas. He further stated that Iran would 'not hesitate to offer any support' to these groups.
Sabbagh's visit follows closely on the heels of Ali Larijani, a senior advisor to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who visited Syria and met with President Bashar Al Assad just days earlier. Additionally, Iranian Defence Minister Aziz Nasrizadeh held discussions with Syrian officials in Damascus over the weekend.
In October, Araghchi himself traveled to Damascus as part of a regional tour, shortly before Israeli strikes targeted Iranian military sites. This visit occurred in the aftermath of an Iranian missile attack on Israel, which was in response to the assassination of several commanders of Iran-affiliated militant groups, including Hezbollah, and a commander of the Revolutionary Guards.
Iran, which does not recognize Israel, remains a steadfast ally of Damascus. Tehran has provided unwavering support to Bashar Al Assad throughout more than a decade of civil war in Syria.
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