New Iran President Backs Assad, Hizbullah
Iran's president-elect has sent messages to Syria's Bashar Assad and Hizbullah, reaffirming support for the two allies.
The official IRNA news agency on Tuesday cited Hassan Rowhani as saying close Iranian-Syrian ties will be able to confront "enemies in the region, especially the Zionist regime," or Israel.
Rowhani said Syria will "overcome its current crisis."
The note was in response to Assad's congratulatory message on Rowhani's June election. Tehran has sided with Assad's regime in Syria's civil war.
Rowhani also wrote to Hizbullah's leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, saying Iran backs the "steadfast nation" of Lebanon and the Palestinians, a reference to Hamas.
He highlighted the group's "endeavors" for the anti-Israeli resistant front -- comprised of Iran, Syria and Lebanon.
The notes reflect Rowhani's intentions to emphasize links to Iran's key regional allies even as he urges for greater outreach to the West.
Source: Associated Press, Naharnet
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