Syria and Iran strengthen already-close ties through new agreement

Additionally, a new credit line of $1bn was approved, half of which was used to finance the export of crude oil and petroleum products.

Since 2013, Tehran has provided direct and indirect support to Damascus, including credit lines that exceed $6.6bn to finance the export of crude oil and its derivatives.

Damascus lost control of oil and gas fields in the country's northeast to US allies, and production dropped from 380,000 barrels per day before 2011 to about 90,000 barrels after.

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The file prepared for Raisi included the following:

1. A report on the latest political developments and economic relations with Syria.

2. A briefing note and proposed topics for negotiation regarding the latest developments between Palestine and Israel.

3. Notes and proposed topics for the remaining departments of the ministry (political and consular).

4. Proposed topics for discussion for the Ministry of Oil, the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism.

5. A report on the status of religious and sectarian affairs and proposed issues for discussion for negotiations with religious scholars in Syria.

6. Subjects of discussion for al-Assad's press conference.

7. A list of documents signed by Iran and Syria.

8. Content pertaining to a joint press conference for the two presidents.

9. The proposed text for an MoU covers comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

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Key Points

The key points are as follows:

1. Since the beginning of 2011, Syria has been in a significant crisis, with no sustainable solution yet found.

2. The Ukrainian war may impact Syria, including:

- Reduced Russian military presence may lead to increased terrorist activity.

- Reduced Russian economic support for Syria may mean shortages in areas like wheat and grains.

- West sending terrorists to Ukraine to fight against the Russians while mobilising forces in Syria to fight against the Ukrainian army.

3. Al-Assad declared his support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine during a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin a day after Russian military operations began.

4. Since August 2016, the Turkish army has conducted three military operations in northern Syria under the names Euphrates Shield, Olive Branch, and Peace Spring, ostensibly to combat Islamic State (IS), the Kurdish PKK, and its Syrian arm, the YPG.

Turkey has occupied large parts of Syrian territory. Turkish officials claim attempts to normalise relations with Syria while simultaneously considering new military operations in northern Syria, intending to establish a 30km-deep safe zone.

5. Iran contributed efforts to prevent the Turkish military attack on northern Syria, leading to security negotiations between Damascus and Ankara on the Kurdish question within the framework of its foreign policy.

A summit of the leaders of the Astana Process countries on this matter was held in July 2022 in Tehran.

At the summit, Iran and Russia convinced Turkey not to undertake any further military action in northern Syria, an undertaking to which Turkey has so far adhered.

6. The current situation in Idlib is worrisome because the West, particularly Turkey, is trying to solidify the ceasefire between the Syrian army and terrorist groups, recognising the Al-Nusra Front led by Mohammed al-Jolani as a moderate group.

7. Explosions, assassinations, and attacks on Syrian military forces' facilities/depots have increased in recent months since Russia's military presence reduced.

Russia had been acting as a guarantor of the ceasefire in Dara'a province.

Jordan's King said the Russian withdrawal left Iran and Hezbollah filling the void, which was a security threat to Jordan.

Shortly after, Jordan announced the confiscation of drug and weapons shipments at its border with Syria.

Armed groups affiliated with the Syrian opposition are said to be reorganising in the province of Dara'a, with suggestions of the formation of a military coalition involving Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.

8. Zionist entity air strikes continue in various Syrian regions under the pretext of combatting an Iranian military presence supplying weapons to Hezbollah.

The UN Security Council remains suspiciously silent about this aggression. Russia was forced to publicly oppose these air strikes due to Iranian diplomatic pressure and Syrian government protests regarding Ukraine.

9. The presence of US terrorist military forces in the two regions of eastern Euphrates and Tanf in Syria persists. They have established numerous bases in these areas and have two main missions:

- To prevent the reopening of the Iraq-Syria land border and to stop Iran from using it for trade with Syria and Lebanon through Iraq.

- To organise and equip Islamic State (IS) and the armed group Revolutionary Commandos to confront the Syrian army and its allies.

The American military presence in the eastern Euphrates region and their support for Syria's Kurds have kept this region out of the direct control of the Syrian government.

This has raised Kurdish demands and led to the establishment of political entities by the Kurds, even extending their control to Arab towns in the area.

It comes at a time when Americans continue to steal oil from the region and prevent the entry of oil and grains produced in this area to regions under the control of the Syrian government.

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Status of Iranians in Syria

Around 8,000-10,000 Iranian citizens live in Syria, and their history there dates back 200 years.

These second and third-generation Iranians mainly live in Damascus and were born in Syria.

Some enjoy good living conditions, having attained higher education degrees. Others do not have suitable financial conditions, including Iranian women, who are the breadwinners of their families.

They face various challenges regarding their children's health, medical treatment, and educational services.

The following are the primary issues:

1. Failure to complete identity documents for Iranian residents, despite their presence in Syria dating back 200 years, with the second and third generations being born in Syria.

2. Unemployment and the inability to work, even for Iranian medics, lead to a loss of motivation. As a result, they are among the poorer classes in Syria.

3. The high cost of healthcare services and the non-acceptance of Iranians in government hospitals. The cost of obtaining medicine and medical services in Syria is high (according to Syrian laws, Iranians are treated the same as all other foreigners and must pay in dollars).

4. Absence of health insurance services and the negative consequences on Iranians' lives.

5. Denial of the smart card for fuel, bread, and other essentials to Iranians.

6. The housing crisis is due to Iranian residents being displaced since the beginning of the Syrian crisis, various parts of the country being occupied by terrorists, the inability to return, and the lack of financial capacity to rebuild their homes after the crisis.

7. Property and inheritance issues. Iranian residents can receive inheritance money based on Islamic law, but registering properties in the name of a foreign heir is impossible.

8. Lack of financial ability to cover consular service costs, especially obtaining passports.

9. Mobile phone SIM cards are not issued to those with Iranian names. Instead, they must visit the relevant department monthly for renewal.

10. Except for a limited number of places in the scholarship agreement, Iranians are not accepted into Syrian government universities.

11. The winter fuel allocation is insufficient for heating homes, and the liquefied gas allocation is inadequate for household cooking.

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Strategic Agreement

The following is the full text of the draft of the Strategic Agreement between Syria and Iran:

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Long-term Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation Plan between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Arab Republic of Syria.

Based on the readiness of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Arab Republic of Syria, hereinafter referred to as "the Parties," to develop bilateral relations and cooperation based on the fundamental interests of both countries and considering the development of comprehensive and long-term relations in political, economic, trade, scientific, technological, cultural, parliamentary, legal, judicial, and other sectors of interest to both countries.

To deepen bilateral relations, enhance comprehensive cooperation, achieve the interests and demands of both peoples, and outline a roadmap for bilateral relations while respecting the internal laws of both countries, the provisions of the UN Charter, and the commitment to the fundamental principles of international law.

This includes the principle of respecting the sovereignty of states, the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of states through the use of force, respecting the territorial integrity, goodwill, and commitment to all agreements previously concluded between the Parties, including agreements by the Joint Supreme Co-operation Committee, Joint Economic Committee, and other ministries and institutions in both countries.

Article 1 - The Joint Supreme Cooperation Committee

1. The Parties have decided to convene the Joint Supreme Co-operation Committee annually, chaired by the First Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Prime Minister of the Arab Republic of Syria. The countries will periodically host the meeting to continue the mechanism of reciprocal visits of political delegations between the two countries to increase the level of consultations on bilateral, regional, and international issues.

2. The Parties have decided to take the necessary measures for the parliamentary approval of the Memorandum of Understanding for the Long-term Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation Plan between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Arab Republic of Syria, signed by the two countries on 28/01/2019.

3. The Parties have decided to convene the Joint Supreme Cooperation Committee, chaired by the First Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Prime Minister of the Arab Republic of Syria, and to hold a meeting of the Joint Committee at the earliest opportunity, aiming to enhance mutual co-operation.

Article 2 - Cooperation in International Institutions

1. The Parties will seek to benefit from the United Nations' capacities as a multiparty organisation working towards establishing international peace and security. The Parties will jointly provide practical and sustainable solutions to important international issues and enhance their cooperation within the framework of the United Nations and other relevant international organisations.

2. The Parties will continue to support each other's candidates.

Article 3 - Cooperation in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation

The Parties, as members of the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation, will seek to enhance cooperation among members, resolve disputes between members, promote the organisation's status, and contribute to the efforts of the organisation to strengthen cooperation among all parts of the organisation within the framework of the Permanent Committee for Economic and Commercial Co-operation.

Article 4 - Enhancing Bilateral and Multilateral Relations

1. The Parties will take steps to conduct negotiations and the necessary procedures to enhance stability, preserve security, elevate the level of bilateral cooperation in the region, expand and strengthen bilateral relations, and promote multilateral cooperation involving other countries in the region.

Article 5 - Promoting Security and Stability

The Parties will collaborate effectively to confront any idea or action associated with trans-regional plans aimed at diminishing national sovereignty and territorial integrity, altering international borders, or creating new political identities leading to undermining security and ongoing tensions.

Article 6 - Cooperation Against Unilateral Coercive Measures

1. The Parties affirm that unilateral coercive measures by third countries do not contribute to resolving international political disputes; instead, they destabilise peace and security and increasingly reduce trade and development.

2. The Parties reject using economic sanctions as a tool of pressure on independent states.

3. The Parties will increase their efforts to follow necessary procedures to reject sanctions and take actions to lift them under the UN Charter.

Article 7 - Cooperation in Reconstruction

The Parties will seek bilateral or multilateral cooperation through international organisations to reconstruct homes and return displaced persons and refugees. This is particularly crucial as Syria needs reconstruction, stability, relative security, and compensation for its losses during the fight against terrorism.

Article 8 - Cooperation in the Energy Sector

The Parties are determined to enhance exchange and co-operation in the energy sector, including oil, electricity, and renewable energy. They will actively seek collaboration between relevant ministries based on concluded agreements.

Article 9 - Banking Cooperation

1. The Parties will strengthen banking cooperation as circumstances require to facilitate bilateral trade.

2. The Parties will facilitate conditions for bilateral trade promotion in national currencies (Iranian Rial and Syrian Pound) based on banking agreements between the two countries.

Article 10 - Trade Enhancement

1. The Parties will assign relevant ministries to expedite ongoing negotiations between the two countries, aiming to enhance trade relations, reduce customs and non-customs barriers, increase trade volume, and take effective measures according to the Free Trade Agreement between the Parties.

2. The Parties will create facilities and support mutual investments in both countries or joint investments in a third country within the framework of their laws and agreements between the Parties.

3. The Parties welcome investments in various economic sectors in both countries and agree to support the private sector in both countries to enhance their exchanges and strengthen bilateral trade relations based on agreements between the Chambers of Commerce of both countries.

Article 11 - Cooperation in the Environment

The Islamic Republic of Iran, the Arab Republic of Syria, and neighbouring countries in the region are affected by climate change. Therefore, the Parties will make joint efforts to enhance bilateral relations and cooperation within the framework of sustainable management and coordination of water resources. This includes enhancing capacity building and addressing environmental challenges.

Article 12 - Agricultural Cooperation

The Parties will collaborate in various agricultural sectors concerning the trade of agricultural products, exchange of experiences, and technological information. The Parties will also strive to encourage and facilitate increased cooperation between the private sectors of both countries based on future agreements.

Article 13 - Transportation Development

The transportation sector is crucial in developing trade between the two countries and neighbouring states. The countries have significant capabilities in the transportation sector and a strategic geographic location in the international transport corridor between the north, south, east, and west.

Therefore, the Parties will cooperate to enhance land, railway, and maritime transportation between the two sides and neighbouring countries. They will facilitate the entry of air and railway fleets into each other's territories, including cooperation to increase the capacity of transportation stations according to concluded contracts.

Article 14 - University, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation

The Parties will enhance relations and co-operation between relevant science, technology, and innovation institutions for both countries. They will support the promotion of Persian language and literature, as well as Arabic language and literature, at universities in both countries, based on signed agreements for cooperation between the two countries in this field.

Article 15 - Health, Pharmaceuticals, and Medical Services Cooperation

The Parties will implement signed contracts between the two countries' health sector, especially medical and health services, pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and medical equipment. This is in consideration of the new conditions of the regional and global health system.

Article 16 - Media Co-operation

The Parties will cooperate in the media sector by strengthening relations between media outlets and news channels in both countries. This includes joint productions, exchanging experts and specialists, enhancing educational capabilities, and sharing achievements.

Article 17 - Cooperation in Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Sports

The Parties will take measures in the cultural sector, particularly in preserving cultural heritage and enhancing relations in the sports sector and youth affairs. This is based on the cultural agreement, its executive plan, and agreements currently being developed in cultural heritage and sports.

Article 18 - Religious and Cultural Cooperation

The Parties will support the promotion of brotherhood and solidarity among followers of all Islamic sects. They will reject violence and extremism, combat Islamophobia, and host constructive negotiations among followers of other divine religions.

This is achieved through supporting joint cooperation between the religious and cultural institutions of both countries, rejecting sectarianism and religious disputes among followers of Islamic sects, and promoting non-sectarian thought.

Article 19 - Intelligence, Security, and Defense Co-operation

1. The Parties will enhance intelligence and security co-operation to confront common security threats and address separatist and terrorist organisations.

2. The Parties will strengthen defense co-operation, particularly in education and research, exchange military experiences, and defence technologies between institutions and research centres.

Article 20 - Counter-terrorism

The Parties will continue co-operation in the field of counter-terrorism, as countering terrorism is an international duty and both countries are victims of terrorism. The Parties will seek to increase the level of exchange in this sector.

Article 21 - Cooperation in Combating Crimes

The Parties will enhance cooperation in exchanging information and expertise in preventing and combating transnational organised crimes, smuggling of cultural and natural artefacts, terrorist crimes, drug production and trafficking, illegal drug and psychotropic substance trade, human trafficking, illegal migration, weapons and ammunition smuggling, forgery of government and private documents (including travel documents), financial crimes, money laundering, fraud, cybercrimes, and preventing illegal betting and gambling by illegitimate groups in cyberspace. This is based on the concluded agreements.

Article 22 - Cooperation in Legal, Judicial, Women, and Family Sectors

1. The Parties will strengthen cooperation in the legal and judicial sectors by implementing the 'Judicial Treaty between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Arab Republic of Syria' concluded between the Parties.

2. The Parties will enhance cooperation in the women's and family sector by holding conferences between relevant institutions in both countries and signing agreements in this field.

3. The Parties will follow up and implement consular cooperation and citizens' affairs based on the Consular Cooperation MoU.

Article 23 - Parliamentary Cooperation

1. The Parties will seek comprehensive development of parliamentary relations between the two countries, including enhancing relations between parliamentary friendship committees.

2. The parliaments of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Arab Republic of Syria will jointly exert international efforts in the International Parliamentary Union, the Asian Parliamentary Assembly, and the Union of Parliaments of the Member States of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

Article 24 - Necessary Executive Frameworks

1. All relevant ministries and institutions of both Parties will cooperate within the current mechanisms and committees or new mechanisms organised during the implementation of this MoU. They will organise appropriate executive plans to reach new prospects for cooperation and work towards their implementation.

2. The Parties will discuss the directions and details of cooperation and reach the goals mentioned in this MoU. They will discuss executive procedures for different sectors and sign them.

3. Political Committee sessions will be held, chaired by the Chief Deputies of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs specialising in political affairs from the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs from the Arab Republic of Syria every six months, regularly in the capitals of both countries. The purpose is to follow up on appropriate plans and organise them for the implementation of the provisions of this MoU.

Article 25 - Impact on Other Agreements

This comprehensive agreement has not adversely affected the commitments and rights of the Parties in the bilateral agreements between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Arab Republic of Syria or the multilateral agreements with third countries.

Article 26 - Implementation

The Parties have signed this comprehensive plan for co-operation to increase and develop cooperation between them. This agreement will not result in the initiation of an international agreement under international law. The provisions of this comprehensive plan will not be interpreted and implemented in a way that leads to creating binding legal obligations for either of the Parties.

Article 27 - Amendments

This comprehensive plan may be amended or supplemented at any time by mutual written agreement between the Parties. The comprehensive plan for co-operation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Arab Republic of Syria, was signed in 2022 in Persian, Arabic, and English. All versions are identical, and the English version shall be adopted in case of any discrepancies in implementation or interpretation.