He also praised the Syrian nation and government for vigorously defending their homeland against terrorists, expressing hope that Arab country will eventually emerge victorious, adding the Islamic Republic will employ all its capacities to help counter the terror groups wreaking havoc in regional countries.

Iran “will mobilize all resources to fight the terrorists that are perpetrating crimes against oppressed nations in the region regardless of the ridiculous categorization of those terrorists as moderates and extremists,” Velayati added.

The Syrian leader, in turn, thanked Ayatollah Khamenei as well as the Iranian nation and government for standing by Syrians and making all efforts to help the crisis-hit country in its battles against terrorism.

Assad also pointed to the eight-year war imposed on Iran by the regime of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in 1980s, stressing that the Iranian nation’s stiff resistance led to its ultimate victory in the military offensive, which had the backing of certain world countries.

During the talks, the two sides also exchanged views on the latest developments in the region as well as ways to enhance bilateral Tehran-Damascus ties.

Velayati arrived in Damascus on Friday night for talks with senior Syrian authorities after a visit to neighboring Lebanon, where he held a meeting with Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.

Upon his arrival, the Iranian official said, Syria, which has been fighting foreign-backed militants for over five years, is currently “stronger than any other time,” Press TV reported.

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