TEHRAN- Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi congratulated the Syrian Arab Republic on its national day in a message to his Syrian counterpart on Monday.

Reiterating Tehran’s stance to fortify the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria, President Raisi called on all occupiers to leave the Arab country immediately. 

“I am confident that by using the many capacities and abilities of the two countries, we can take valuable steps towards developing relations in an all-round way and also establish a foundation for regional cooperation and expansion of peace, stability and development in the region in all fields,” the Iranian president added, according to his official website.

“As in the past, the Islamic Republic of Iran will stand by the government and nation of Syria as a friend and brother and always supports the independence and territorial sovereignty of Syria and emphasizes the withdrawal of the occupiers from Syria,” he noted.

The primary national holiday in Syria is Independence Day, celebrated on April 17, which commemorates the evacuation of the last French troops in Syria, officially ending the French Mandate for Syria.

On April 08, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian arrived in the Syrian capital of Damascus to hold talks with the high-ranking Syrian officials.

The Iranian foreign minister, leading a political-parliamentary team, landed in Damascus, the second stop of his regional visit that began in Muscat, the capital of Oman.

The senior Iranian official talked on bilateral relations and the most recent events in the region when he was in Damascus, especially the Israeli attack against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.

On the second leg of his regional trip, Amir Abdollahian met with Syrian president as well as his Syrian counterpart Faisal Mekdad to talk about regional and bilateral issues.

In a meeting with Assad, Amir Abdollahian expressed gratitude for the warm reception of the Iranian delegation by the Syrian side and conveyed the greetings of Iran’s president to his Syrian counterpart.  

He thanked him for his phone call to President Raisi and the presence of the Syrian foreign minister and other high-ranking officials at the Iranian Embassy following the recent outrageous attack by the Zionist regime. 

He highlighted various political, legal, and international actions taken by the Islamic Republic of Iran at the United Nations, the Security Council, and directly towards the U.S. as the main supporter of the Zionist regime’s crimes.

Iran’s top diplomat also mentioned the deteriorating situation in Gaza and the recent meetings of the leaders of Hamas and Islamic Jihad movements in Iran. 

He stressed the severe internal divisions and unprecedented rifts within the Zionist regime, contrasting them with the readiness of the resistance to confront the regime’s aggressions. 

He emphasized the urgent need for global attention and action to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank.

The Iranian foreign minister also underscored the importance of enhancing economic cooperation between Iran and Syria, urging the implementation of past agreements, especially those reached during President Raisi’s visit to Damascus. 

He emphasized the need to create suitable conditions for the success of President Assad’s upcoming visit to Tehran.