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Iran will maintain its military presence in Syria despite U.S. pressure for its withdrawal, a senior Iranian official said on Tuesday, revealing more details about a military cooperation deal that Tehran and Damascus signed this week.
Iranian Defence Minister Amir Hatami visited Damascus on Saturday for talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and senior military officials. He signed a deal for military cooperation in a meeting with his Syrian counterpart, but details of the accord were not revealed.
"The continued presence of Iranian (military) advisers in Syria was part of this military cooperation agreement between Tehran and Damascus," the state news agency IRNA quoted Tehran's military attache to Damascus, Abolqassem Alinejad, as saying.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday attempted to defend his government’s economic performance before parliament, according to reports on Iranian state television.Rouhani answered five economy-related questions posed by lawmakers on U.S. sanctions, unemployment, and the devaluation of the Iranian rial.The president defended his government’s performance, attributing the country’s economic difficulties to the recent re-imposition of U.S. sanctions.While lawmakers expressed satisfaction with one of Rouhani’s answers (that pertaining to sanctions on the local banking sector), they voiced dissatisfaction with the remaining four, the subjects of which will be referred to judicial authorities for investigation.The findings of this investigation will then be referred back to parliament, which will then decide whether or not to register confidence in Rouhani’s government.In recent months, Iran has seen steady declines in several economic indicators amid sporadic popular protests against mounting unemployment and deteriorating living conditions.Earlier this month, the U.S. re-imposed sanctions on Iran after withdrawing in May from a landmark nuclear deal with the P5 1 group of nations (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany).The sanctions are intended to hinder Tehran's acquisition of U.S. currency; its precious metals trade; bank transactions denominated in Iranian currency; activities related to Iran's sovereign debt; and the country’s automotive sector.Iran parliament censures Rouhani in sign pragmatists losing swayUS: Iran misusing World Court with suit aimed at lifting sanctionsIran oil exports set to drop in August ahead of US sanctionsIran’s parliament blames Rouhani for economic troubles, refers him to judiciaryRouhani vows to defeat 'anti-Iranian' officials in the White House
Iran president defends economic performance before MPs
The accord also emphasised the importance of Syria's territorial integrity and sovereignty, he said, adding that it came into effect on the day of its signing.
"Iran will help Syria in clearing minefields in different parts of the country... Iran will help Syria to rebuild the military factories that were damaged in the war," Alinejad said.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have sent weapons and thousands of soldiers to Syria to help shore up Assad during the seven-year-long civil war there.
Iran’s Defense Ministry has shut down more than 130 of its companies, Defense Minister Amir Hatami said Monday.In statements, the minister said the closed companies were active in the fields of transportation, energy and construction.“The ministry has given up its shares in Wagon Pars and Iran Air Tours,” he said.Wagon Pars is an Iranian train manufacturing company, whose products include locomotives, trains, metros, freight and fuel wagons, and aircraft equipment.Iran Air Tours is a Tehran-based airline.Hatami said the closure aims to reduce the role of the military in the economic sector.The defense minister said former governments had privatized many companies owned by the military.He went on to stress that the military was ready to transfer 72 percent of projects being carried out by the military-run companies to the private sector.Last January, Hatami said that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ordered the military to withdraw from the country's economic sector.
Iran shuts down scores of military-run companies
U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton reiterated last week Washington's call for Iran to remove all its forces from Syria.
The United States has reimposed economic sanctions against Iran partly over its involvement in conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Yemen as well as over its nuclear and missile programmes.
Israel has accused Tehran of seeking a permanent military presence in Syria. Iran has repeatedly said its military presence in Syria is at the invitation of the Assad government and that it has no immediate plans to withdraw.
Iran and Syria signed a deal for military cooperation in a meeting between the defence ministers of the two countries in Damascus, the Tasnim news agency reported on Monday.Iranian Defence Minister Amir Hatami travelled to Damascus on Sunday for a two-day visit, meeting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and senior military officials, Tasnim reported.Iran foreign minister hails relations with TurkeyIran defence minister Amir Hatami arrives in SyriaIranian forces have backed Assad in the country’s civil war.Tasnim did not provide any details about the military cooperation deal.U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton said last week that Iran should remove its forces from Syria.Senior Iranian officials have said their military presence in Syria is at the invitation of the Assad regime and they have no immediate plans to withdraw.
Iran and Syria sign deal for military cooperation
More than 1,000 Iranians, including senior members of the elite Revolutionary Guards, have been killed in Syria since 2012.
The Guards initially kept quiet about their role in the Syria conflict. But in recent years, as casualties have mounted, they have been more outspoken about their engagement, framing it as an existential struggle against Daesh.