Roundup: Iran reiterates steadfast support to Syria

Iranian top officials reiterated on Tuesday the country's unwavering support to Syria which has been the hotbed of political dissension and armed conflicts over the past four years.

Iran will never slacken in its steadfast policy to stay with Syria in the face of terrorism and extremism, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said in a meeting with the visiting Syrian parliament speaker Mohammad Jihad al-Laham.

"The Iranian government and nation will remain with the Syrian government and nation to the end of the road," Rouhani said.

The Islamic republic has emerged as the staunchest regional ally to the Syrian government throughout the four-year-old Syrian war which has been aimed to overthrow the government of President Bashar al-Assad.

"Since the very beginning, when plots of terrorism and sanctions were hatched against Syria, Iran has not forgotten its moral and human commitments to the country and will maintain its support and help to the Syrian nation and government," Rouhani said.

"Unfortunately, some regional countries made miscalculations and thought that the terrorist groups would serve as tools at their disposal," he said, "but sooner or later, the terrorist groups will emerge as the problems for those countries."

After four years of resistance, the Syrian oppositions have become disappointed with their plan to control Damascus, the Iranian president said. "We are certain that the foreigners will not be able to impose their will on Syria," he said.

For his part, Laham said that some regional countries have perpetrated the plans of the United States and the West in Syria and this will eventually be in the interest of Israel.

"The Syrian government and nation will never forget the support of the brother and friendly country of Iran," he added.

Also, Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said that Iran will stand by Syria and its leadership as this is the mission of the country "to stand by the oppressed people and defend them."

The United States and some regional countries have gone hand in hand to eliminate the Syrian resistance and create a safe haven for Israel, but "their dreams will not be realized and they will not succeed," Veleyati was quoted as saying by Press TV.

Terrorists in Syria and in the region will eventually suffer defeat despite receiving support from Western countries and certain regional states, he said.

Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani said that Syria is defending Muslim nations against Israel and extremist groups.

"Syria is the front-line in defending the Islamic territories against the Zionist regime (of Israel) and the unbridled wave of terrorism," Shamkhani said in the meeting with al-Laham, according to Tasnim news agency.

Undermining Syria's role would definitely lead to crises and uncontrollable situation in all of its neighbors and other regional countries, he said, stressing his countries support to the Arab state.

The Syrian speaker also thanked Tehran's supports, saying that the assistance provided by certain countries for the extremist and terrorist groups in Syria has been "a dark record" for those countries because they have preferred to serve the interests of colonial powers instead of their own nations.

On Monday, Iran's Majlis (parliament) Speaker Ali Larijani said that Iran has helped Syria fight terrorism and will continue to do so.

Iran has vowed "unlimited" support for Syria in its fight against rebels which aim to overthrow the government of President Bashar al-Assad.

Heading a parliamentary delegation, al-Laham arrived in Tehran on Monday for talks on bilateral cooperation as well as developments in the region. Endit