Iran's new foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, visited Damascus on Sunday and gave a speech decrying American sanctions against Syria, as well as blasting Israel.
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"The Zionists are the main reason for the instability that is engulfing the region," Amirabdollahian said at a joint press conference with his Syrian counterpart.
"Christians, Muslims, and even Jews are being held prisoner by the Zionist entity in Palestine's historical territory," he said, adding, "only regional cooperation between Muslim states can lead to a stable security situation in this regard."
Amirabdollahian stressed that Iran would work to strengthen economic ties with Syrian and help it overcome the ongoing economic crisis caused by years of war and US sanctions.
"We are working on an economic plan that will include cooperation on trade and energy, with the goal being to battle the United States' oppressive sanctions on the Arab Republic of Syria," the foreign minister said.
Amirabdollahian also hinted that Iran wanted to create a new regional order, based on forces loyal to its regime: "We see the recent developments in the region. We believe that any political or security arrangement in the region should involve its sovereign states, including Iraq and Syria."
Touching on the situation in Afghanistan, he said he hoped that an Afghan government would be established that would include "all political players" in the state.
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