Syria's Assad praises Iran deal as 'great victory'

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad congratulated key ally Iran on reaching a nuclear deal with world powers on Tuesday, calling the agreement a "great victory".

In a message to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Assad said he was "happy that the Islamic Republic of Iran has achieved a great victory by reaching an agreement", state news agency SANA reported.

"In the name of the Syrian people, I congratulate you and the people of Iran on this historic achievement," he added in another message addressed to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

Assad congratulated Tehran on the deal, which he said would be a "major turning point in the history of Iran, the region and the world."

He added that it provided "clear recognition on the part of world powers of the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme, while preserving the national rights of your people and confirming the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran."

Syria's foreign ministry also welcomed the agreement, which it said underlined "the importance of adopting diplomacy and political solutions to resolve international disagreements."

Tehran is a longstanding ally of Damascus and has remained so since Syria's uprising began in March 2011.

It has bolstered Assad's government with aid including loans as well as military support.

It is also a key ally of Lebanon's Hezbollah movement, which has dispatched fighters to help Assad's forces battle the uprising.

More than 230,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began with anti-government demonstrations more than four years ago.
Source: AFP