Iran-Syria relations

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi speaks during a news conference, in New York, September 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

October 12, 2023, 2:08 pm

Iran calls on Islamic, Arab countries to confront Israel over its war on Hamas

After Hamas massacres 1,300 people in onslaught on Israel, Raisi calls his Syrian counterpart, urges swift cooperation against ‘Zionist regime’ and its ‘genocide’ of Palestinians

By AFP and ToI Staff

Esmail Qaani, the head of Iran's Quds Force, speaks during a ceremony on the occasion of first anniversary of death of the force's previous head Qassem Soleimani, in Tehran, Iran, January 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

September 22, 2023, 4:55 pm

Head of Iran’s Quds Force visits Syria to oversee joint military drill

Iranian media says Esmail Ghaani, in charge of the Revolutionary Guards’ foreign operations, held talks on how ‘to confront the military and security challenges facing Syria’

By AFP

Syrian President Bashar Assad speaks during an interview in Damascus, Syria, August 9, 2023. (Syrian Presidency Telegram page via AP)

August 10, 2023, 2:28 am

Syria’s Assad claims Israeli airstrikes target Syrian forces, using Iran as ‘excuse’

In rare interview, Syrian president accuses Israel of attacking his military, indicates ties strained between his government and Hamas

By ToI Staff and Agencies

Illustrative: Uranium ore. (RHJ; iStock by Getty Images)

May 4, 2023, 9:26 pm

Documents appear to show Iran’s interest in Syrian phosphates for uranium production

In leaked papers, Iran’s nuclear agency asks government to cover costs of project

By ToI Staff and Agencies

In this handout photo, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi meets with senior Palestinian officials, including leaders of the Hamas and Islamic Jihad terror groups, in the Syrian capital Damascus on May 4, 2023. (Iranian Presidency Office)

May 4, 2023, 3:22 pm

Iran’s Raisi meets with top Hamas and Islamic Jihad officials, urges Israel’s defeat

Visiting Syria, Iranian president holds talks with senior members of Palestinian terror groups, predicts ‘collapse of Zionist regime very close’

By Agencies and ToI Staff

In this photo released by the official Facebook page of the Syrian Presidency, Syrian President Bashar Assad, right, shakes hands with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Damascus, Syria, May 3, 2023. (Syrian Presidency via Facebook via AP)

May 3, 2023, 2:05 pm

Raisi meets Assad on first visit to Syria by an Iranian president in 13 years

Leaders sign series of long-term cooperation agreements, including on oil, agriculture and railways; rare meeting comes as some Arab countries have been warming up to Damascus

By Albert Aji and Kareem Chehayeb

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi speaks with the Lebanese pro-Hezbollah news outlet Al Mayadeen in an interview aired May 2, 2023 (screenshot)

May 3, 2023, 8:55 am

Iran’s president threatens swift demise for Israel should it attack his country

Raisi, set to visit Syria amid detente with Saudis, says shifting regional alliances, along with ‘unprecedented’ political situation in Israel, have made Jewish state vulnerable

By ToI Staff

Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi speaks during a ceremony marking the country's annual army day in Tehran on April 18, 2023. (ATTA KENARE / AFP)

April 30, 2023, 3:27 pm

Iran’s President Raisi to visit Syria for the first time in over a decade

Iranian leader will meet with Syrian counterpart Assad on Wednesday; Tehran’s envoy to Damascus calls trip a ‘good event’ for other countries in region

By AFP and ToI Staff

Syrian President Bashar Assad, left, attends a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi, in Tehran, Iran, May 8, 2022. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP/ File)

April 28, 2023, 10:07 pm

Iranian president planning to visit Syria ‘in near future’

Trip by Raisi will be the first of its type since the Syrian civil war erupted in 2011; Iran’s FM says ‘program’ for visit already drawn up

By AFP

Illustrative: Workers unload aid from a plane sent by Iran, at the airport in Syria's northern city of Aleppo, early on February 8, 2023, following a deadly earthquake. (AFP)

April 12, 2023, 1:23 pm

Iran transferred weapons into Syria under cover of earthquake aid flights – report

Tehran saw ‘God’s help’ in chance to move arms and ‘restocked quantities lost in previous Israeli drone strikes,’ sources tell Reuters; also say Israel hit key Hezbollah, Iran base

By ToI Staff

April 9, 2023, 11:55 pm

In phone call, Iran’s Raisi, Syria’s Assad tout ‘weakness’ and ‘collapse’ of Israel

Leaders proclaim ‘the world is changing in favor of the axis of resistance’ against Israel; call comes day after barrage of rockets fired from Syria toward Israel

By ToI Staff

People view the damage in a residential neighborhood after an early morning Israeli airstrike in the capital city of Damascus, Syria, February 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

April 5, 2023, 1:58 pm

Israeli strikes on Syria intensify as tensions with Iran rise

Raids attributed to IAF in recent weeks have killed 2 Iranian military advisers and temporarily disabled 2 of Syria’s largest international airports

By Agencies

This photo released by the official website of the Iranian Defense Ministry on Sunday, June 9, 2019, shows the Khordad 15, a new surface-to-air missile battery at an undisclosed location in Iran. The system uses locally made missiles that resemble the HAWK missiles that the US once sold to the shah and later delivered to the Islamic Republic in the 1980s Iran-Contra scandal. (Iranian Defense Ministry via AP)

February 24, 2023, 8:06 pm

Iran says it’s likely to send Syria air defenses, after latest alleged Israeli strike

State TV says Tehran expected to ship ‘radars and defense missiles’ to its ally in Damascus; White House warns Russia may supply fighter jets to Iran as their security ties grow

By ToI Staff and AFP

February 9, 2023, 11:07 pm

Report: Israel warns Iran against sending arms to Syria under guise of quake aid

Saudi news site quotes unnamed Israeli military official saying any move by Tehran to ‘take advantage of tragic situation’ will be met with military response ‘without hesitation’

By Emanuel Fabian

In this photo released on the official Facebook page of the Syrian Presidency, Syrian President Bashar Assad, right, meets with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Damascus, Syria, January 14, 2023. (Syrian Presidency Facebook page via AP)

January 14, 2023, 9:18 pm

Iran and Syria agree to renew strategic economic arrangement

Allies announce agreement as Tehran’s FM visits Damascus, which has received crucial support from Islamic Republic amid years-long civil war

By Agencies