Iran hosts high-level Syria economic team

A high-level Syrian economic delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Omar Ghalawanji arrived in Tehran on Wednesday to boost cooperation between the two allies faced with Western economic sanctions. Iran's official news agency IRNA said the visiting team included the ministers of oil, electricity, health, water and housing. "The Islamic Republic of Iran has no limit for developing cooperation with the brother and friendly country of Syria," Vice President Ali Saidlou was quoted as saying in a meeting with Ghalawanji. "The enemies of Syria with their sanctions, terrorist actions and economic pressures seek to put pressure on the Syrian people and government but we are sure they will fail," he said. "Today the Islamic Republic of Iran and Syria are two strong countries of the region which can not only boost their cooperation but also influence regional questions," he said. A top Iranian military official warned on Tuesday that Syria's allies "will not allow regime change" and would land "decisive blows" on Damascus's enemies if they entered the conflict in the Arab state. "The Syrian people and the friends of Syria will not allow regime change," said Brigadier General Masoud Jazayeri, deputy chief of Iran's joint armed forces. Tehran is the staunchest ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose Shiite Alawite-led regime bolsters Iran's anti-Israel politics and provides a conduit for Iranian support for Shiite militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon. While Damascus is under sanctions for its deadly repression of an anti-regime uprising, Tehran has been hit with mounting sanctions over its controversial nuclear programme.