Briefly

SYRIA

Iran's Raisi meets Assad in Damascus

Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi met his Syrian counterpart in Damascus on Wednesday, official media said, on the first visit by a head of state of the Islamic republic since Syria's civil war broke out 12 years ago. The two-day visit comes just weeks after Iran's landmark, Chinese-brokered agreement to restore ties with regional rival Saudi Arabia, which has sparked a flurry of diplomacy in the Middle East. Bashar al-Assad welcomed close ally Raisi at the presidential palace, SANA news agency said. "During this trip, we will hold consultations to strengthen and improve economic, political and security relations," Raisi said before departing Teheran, adding that ties between Syria and Iran were "completely strategic". The Syrian presidency said a number of agreements would be signed between the two countries, which remain under heavy Western sanctions.