Iran to double support to "axis of resistance" after nuclear deal: Syrian FM

Syria's Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said Friday that Iran will double its support to the "axe of resistance," which includes Syria, following the signing of the Iranian nuclear deal with world powers.

"Iran will not change its stance toward the Syrian crisis and it stressed a continuous support to the axis of resistance after the conclusion of the nuclear accord," al-Moallem said at the "International Media Conference Against Terrorism" held in Damascus.

Moallem hailed the recently-signed deal as "historic," adding that Iran has entered "the international arena from its widest doors."

"If our allies are strong, we are strong as well," he said, in an apparent empathizing on the ongoing Iranian support to Syria, which was recently highlighted by several Iranian officials, who stressed that there will be no limits to Tehran support to Damascus.

Ali Jannati, the Iranian Culture Minister, who also attended the Damascus conference, said "Iran stood and will stand by Syria" because of the rightful cause in Syria.

Also, Naim al-Qassem, the deputy head of the Lebanese Hezbollah group, told the conference that Syria will not fall, boasting the victories Hezbollah has been achieving alongside the Syrian troops against the insurgents in several Syrian areas.

"Syria has proven that it's unbreakable, but it broke the scheme and it's no longer possible for Syria to fall or leave the axe of resistance," he said, referring to the alliance that groups Syria, Iran and Hezbollah.

"The victory is close," he said, adding that Syria is subject to "a foreign and regional aggression that uses the radical and takfiri current to change its political orientation."

Meanwhile, al-Moallem, the head of the Syrian diplomacy, renewed his government's welcome to the recently-proposed Russian vision on forming a regional alliance to fight the Islamic State (IS) group.

Observers believe the Russian initiative could mean a change in the political landscape and the map of alliance in the region with the rising threat of terrorism.

Still, al-Moallem questioned the intentions of the neighboring countries, which, he said, are still rendering support to the radical groups.

"The neighboring countries have yet to abide by the international resolutions regarding countering terror. They have to abide by the resolutions for the success of fighting terrorism," he said. Endit