The president was met at Damascus International Airport by Syrian Economy Minister Mohammed Samer al-Khalil.
Ebrahim Raisi and Bashar al-Assad
© Sputnik
Raisi will meet with his Syrian counterpart, Bashar Assad, and other high-ranking officials. A number of bilateral agreements are expected to be signed during the trip.
This year, the world saw a tectonic shift in Middle East politics, with the China-brokered reinvigoration of Iranian-Saudi relations and the reestablishment of diplomatic ties between both nations after years of hostilities.
Ebrahim Raisi and Bashar al-Assad
© Sputnik
Iran and Syria are close allies despite minor ideological contradictions. Tehran has actively supported Syria’s legitimate leader, Bashar al-Assad, during the country’s civil war with Western-backed jihadists and provided hydrocarbons to Damascus at below market prices.