Syria, Iran expand agreements, praise China after Assad-Raisi meeting

Adam Lucente

May 5, 2023

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad (R) speaks with his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi in Damascus on May 3, 2023. - Raisi congratulated al-Assad on May 3 for "achieving victory" in the country's 12-year-long civil war, in which Tehran has been a major ally. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP) (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA/AFP via Getty Images) — Syria's President Bashar al-Assad (R) speaks with his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi in Damascus on May 3, 2023. — LOUAI BESHARA/AFP via Getty Images

Syria and Iran issued a joint statement on Friday following Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s visit to Damascus praising China for its latest mediation efforts in the region.

The joint statement following Raisi's meeting with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad hailed the China-brokered agreement in March to resume diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia. The deal constituted a "significant step towards positive developments that are in the interest of the stability of the Middle East," it read. Both countries have strong bilateral relations with Beijing but hostilities with Washington.

The statement capped a historic visit for Raisi to Damascus, the first by Iranian president since 2010, in which Syria and Iran signed several cooperation agreements. Here is a recap of Raisi’s visit to Syria and its aftermath:

Day 1