TEHRAN – Tehran Times and Mehr News Agency Managing Director Parviz Esmaeili and Syrian Deputy Information Minister Muhammad Aziz Razzouq held talks on Iran-Syria relations and cultural cooperation here on Tuesday.

The meeting was held at the offices of the Tehran Times and MNA.

Esmaeili said that the enemies of Islam are trying to sow discord between Muslim countries, especially by fomenting sectarian and ethnic violence and harping on fabricated differences between Iran and the Arab countries.

“So the onus is on the information and media officials to inform the Muslim nations,” he added. Iran and Syria currently enjoy the best relations, he noted, adding, “The two countries have a positive influence on regional and international events, and their influence has neutralized the extra-regional powers’ conspiracies to a great extent.”

Syria is on the front line of the campaign against Israeli aggression and expansionist policies, he pointed out.

“Syria’s resistance is laudable. The most important reason for the political stability of Damascus is the fact that the Syrian government has been formed based on the people’s will.”

He criticized some Islamic countries for altering their behavior toward the Zionist regime, saying, “Unfortunately, we can see some countries, which claim to be the representatives of Muslim nations, show weakness in the face of Israel and become dependent on the enemy after their traditional leaders die or are removed.”

Esmaeili also said the full potential of Tehran-Damascus cooperation should be realized.

Razzouq said one of the strategic principles of Syria’s foreign policy is preventing foreigners from influencing Iran-Syria relations.

“Regional nations are the true owners of the region, and the occupiers of Palestine and Iraq will be forced to withdraw sooner or later.

“We and the other regional nations will be the final victors,” he added.

He went on to say that the leaders of the two countries are making efforts to cement their already close ties.

“Iran and Syria are two brothers with a common goal and enemy, and God willing they will attain a common victory through close cooperation.”

Syria will never forget Iran’s independent and progressive stances, he said, adding that the transformation of the former Israeli embassy into the Palestinian Embassy proved that supporting oppressed Muslims is part of the essence of Iran’s Islamic Revolution.

The friendship and brotherhood of Iran and Syria can be a valuable model for relations between Islamic countries.

He also expressed regret that the level of cooperation in information dissemination activities is not at the same level as the two countries’ political and economic cooperation.