Iran starts humanitarian aid to Syria via air

Iran supports Syrian nation’s resistance toward western-motivated unrests and Tehran started sending its humanitarian aid to Damascus via air, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian , Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs said on Wednesday. “Following Iran's political support for Syria, first Iranian aid to the sanctioned people of this country including the necessary medical items were sent to this country via air,” he added. The official criticized the west's paradoxical approach toward Damascus and praised the historical resistance of the Syrian nation and government toward the occupying force of Zionist regime. “We are sure that stability, security and development will return to Damascus under the proposed reforms plans of the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Syria has been experiencing unrest since mid-March with organized attacks by well-armed gangs against Syrian police forces and border guards being reported across the country. Hundreds of people, including members of the security forces, have been killed, when some protest rallies turned into armed clashes. The government blames outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorist groups for the deaths, stressing that the unrest is being orchestrated from abroad. In October, calm was eventually restored in the Arab state after President Bashar al-Assad started a reform initiative in the country, but the US and Zionist regime plots could spark some new unrest in certain parts of the country. Iran and Syria have maintained close ties since the early years of the Islamic Republic and Syria now serves as Iran’s key Arab ally and partner in the region.In contrast with nearly all other Arab countries, Syria supported Iran during the Iran-Iraq War. In 1982 the two states brokered a deal allowing Syria to receive shipments of subsidized Iranian oil, and in return, Syria shut down Iraq’s oil pipeline through its territory. With the absence of an Iraqi threat since 2003, relations between Syria and Iran have deepened, sustained by their shared support of Lebanese Hezbollah and Hamas, and their enmity toward Zionist regime. Syrian officials have consistently expressed their support for Iran’s right to a peaceful nuclear program and emphasized the need for a diplomatic solution to the issue. Economic relations between Iran and Syria have remained strong, though neither state contributes significantly to the other’s economy. An increase in economic cooperation may occur, however, as Syria and Iran are increasingly sanctioned by the West. In July 2011 Iran, Syria, and Iraq signed a 10 dlrs billion natural gas deal amidst growing unrest within Syria.