Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif in Damascus for Assad talks
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has arrived in Damascus for talks with Syrian government officials.
The top Iranian diplomat is scheduled to hold talks with President Bashar al-Assad and Prime Minister Imad Khamis on bilateral relations and the latest developments in Syria.
Zarif's visit on Monday comes after Amar Hatami, Iran's defence minister, travelled to Damascus and signed an agreement for defence cooperation with his Syrian counterpart Ali Abdullah Ayoub. Hatami also met Assad during his trip.
Tehran has provided steady political, financial, and military support to the government during this period.
Javad Zarif visited Turkey last week and met President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has been a staunch supporter of Syria's rebel forces against Assad.
Russia and Iran, which support Assad, and Turkey have been in close cooperation over Syria in order to find a solution to the conflict.
Iranian, Russian and Turkish presidents are scheduled to meet in Tehran to discuss the latest developments in Syria in early September.
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