SANA � President Bashar al-Assad on Monday received Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and the accompanying delegation.

At the start of the meeting, President al-Assad offered condolences to Iran and its people over the victims of the Coronavirus, voicing regret that this pandemic has become a subject of political investment by some states in the West, mainly the United States which continues to impose sanctions on states despite of these exceptional humanitarian circumstances.

His Excellency said the Coronavirus crisis has exposed the failure of the Western regimes as well as their immorality, because the pandemic showed that these regimes only serve a select few of individuals with vested interests, instead of serving their peoples.

Meanwhile, Zarif said the US administration, with its continuing refusal to lift the blockade on Syria and Iran, has revealed its inhumane nature to the world.

The meeting tackled the latest political developments, including the constitutional committee, the Astana process, and the developments in the north of Syria in light of the continuing transgressions by Turkey against Syria�s sovereignty and territory, whether through direct occupation of territory or by increasing the number of what it calls observation points which are actually military bases.

President al-Assad said Turkey�s actions on the ground exposes its true intentions, with its lack of commitment to the agreements it entered whether in Astana or Sochi, all of which stipulate for recognizing Syria�s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Zarif denounced the West�s current attempts to re-exploit the issue of �chemical weapons� in Syria, saying that it is shameful that this pretext would be used again in light of the situation around the world, not to mention all the doubts and inconsistencies that emerged regarding this issue recently.

The meeting also touched on means to develop bilateral relations, including economic relations and encouraging joint investments to benefit the two countries� peoples.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al-Moallem, Presidential Political and Media Advisor Bouthaina Shaaban, and Deputy Foreign and Expatriates Minister Fayssal Mikdad.

In the same context, Minister al-Moallem discussed with Zarif and the accompanying delegation the historical relations between the two countries and means to improve and bolster them, stressing the need to build upon the distinguished strategic levels of these relations in all fields, particularly in light of the mutual challenges facing the two countries� peoples.

They underlined the importance of constant coordination and exchanging data and expertise among the relevant sides in the two countries to strengthen the ability to confront the threat and repercussions of the Coronavirus and to provide the requirements for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

The two sides also discussed developments on the regional and international arenas, expressing matching viewpoints regarding all the issues that were discussed.

Hazem Sabbagh