Iran Ready to Help Reconstruct Syria: President Rouhani

In a Saturday phone conversation with his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad, Rouhani congratulated him on the latest victories and stressed the need for continuation of war against terrorist groups in the region.

According to a Farsi report by the Iranian president’s official website, Rouhani said it is the Syrians who should decide about their future, not the meddlesome foreign powers.

He went on to say the opposition forces in Syria should take advantage of the current opportunity and play a role in making a promising future for Syria.

He then referred to the trilateral summit meeting in Russia’s Sochi attended by the presidents of Iran, Russia and Turkey and noted that during the summit the leaders called for holding national dialogue with the aim of creating stability and security in Syria.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Rouhani also referred to the latest cheap statements of Saudi Arabia’s crown prince about Iranian officials and said “unfortunately, some immature regional officials repeat the Zionist regime’s statements.”

He then referred to the “cancerous tumor” of Israel in the region saying the Zionist regime has committed heinous crimes over the past 70 years. “We hope certain Arab states’ officials take steps in a right direction and stop adopting policies which negatively affect the whole region.”

For his part, the Syrian president expressed his gratitude to the Islamic Republic of Iran for its contribution to peace in Syria.

Assad said the defeat of ISIS in Syria was the result of the courageous efforts by those who stood by the Syrian nation in its fight against terrorism.