Iran’s new ambassador to Syria arrives in Damascus

Islamic Republic of Iran’s new Ambassador to Syria, Mohammad-Reza Ra’ouf-Sheibani arrived here Friday night and was received by Iranian Syria-based organs’ managers and caretakers. According to the IRNA reporter in Damascus, in the reception ceremony held for Sheibani at the Damascus International Airport in addition to the Iranian organs’ officials there were also a number of diplomats from the Syrian Arab Republic’s Ministry of Foreign and Immigrants Affairs, including the Deputy Foreign Minister in Ceremonial Affairs Muhammad al-Muhammad.  Sheibani’s former responsibility in Foreign Ministry was Deputy Foreign Minister in Middle East and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Affairs.  He was appointed as the IRI Ambassador to Syria at the end of the former Iranian diplomat at that position, Hojjatoleslam Seyyed Ahmad Mousavi.  Mousavi had a meeting with the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad at the end of his tenure in Damascus on September 22nd.  In the meeting President Assad appreciated the Islamic Republic of Iran’s continuous support for Syria in the course of the recent and ongoing events in his country, arguing, “The US pressures against Syria are in line with the pressures imposed against the resistance front and the countries that support that front.”  The Syrian president also said at the meeting that Iran and Syria are aligned at the same front.  Mousavi had been appointed at his position as Iran’s Ambassador to Syria on December 31st, 2007, at the end of Hojjatoleslam Mohammad-Hassan Akhtari’s tenure at the same post.  Akhtari had been appointed as Iran’s ambassador to Syria on December 26th, 2005 for the second time at the same position. Before him Mohammad-Reza Baqeri was the Iranian ambassador there.  Akhtari was also the first Islamic Republic of Iran’s ambassador to Syria and his mission at that post had lasted for 12 years.  Iran and Syria are close allies not only in political and diplomatic fields, but also have the closest possible economic, cultural, industrial, agricultural and technological relations.  The two countries’ top officials, including presidents, have been visiting each other’s capital cities more than once each year, which is proof for the two countries’ excellent comprehensive ties.