Iran and Syria sign cooperation deal as summit is scheduled to discuss Idlib

TEHERAN - The defense ministers of Iran and Syria have signed an agreement on military cooperation and reconstruction in the war-torn country, Iranian media reported on Monday.

"Syria is passing through the crisis stage and entering the reconstruction phase," said Iran's Defence Minister Amir Hatami, according to the Tasnim news agency.

Hatami is on the second day of a two-day visit to Damascus, during which he held "detailed negotiations" with his counterpart Ali Abdullah Ayoub and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, according to Tasnim.

The "defense and technical agreement" provides for the continued "presence and participation" of Iran in Syria, added Hatami.

Teheran has provided steady political, financial, and military backing to Assad as he has fought back a seven-year war.

In an interview on Monday night with the Beirut-based Al-Mayadeen television channel, Hatami said the agreement included the rehabilitation of Syria's defense industry and assured Iran would provide "good service".

"With this accord, we have paved the way for a reconstruction of the Syrian military industries," he said.

"The most important element of the deal is the rebuilding of the Syrian armed forces and defense industries so that they can regain their full capacity."

On Tuesday last week, Iran unveiled its first domestic fighter jet, just days after releasing a next generation short-range ballistic missile.

Syria's war has left more than 350,000 people dead and displaced millions since it broke out in 2011.

Meanwhile, the presidents of Iran, Russia and Turkey will hold a trilateral summit in Iran on Sept 7 as part of the Astana peace process over the Syrian crisis, the Turkish presidency said on Monday.

The meeting between Turkey, Russia and Iran, the three guarantors of a cease-fire deal in Syria, comes ahead of increasing international efforts in reaching a solution to the crisis.

The summit will be held in the northern Iranian city of Tabriz, according to broadcaster TRT Haber.

The three countries have been mediating a peace process for the Syrian crisis since 2016.

Ankara has been urging against an impending military operation by the Syrian forces targeting the rebelheld Idlib province, citing concerns of civilian casualties and a possible refugee influx toward the Turkish border.

The Syrian government, backed by Russia, aims to clear Idlib of militants, who have been controlling the province since early 2017.

The latest trilateral summit of Astana process was held in Ankara in April, with the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

AFP - Xinhua