Iranian FM arrives in Damascus for talks on Syria reconstruction

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian arrived in Syria on Saturday to meet with regime officials for talks on reconstruction in the war-torn country, Iran's Mehr news agency reported.

Amir-Abdollahian led a delegation to Damascus following trips to Moscow and Beirut, where consultations were held with Russian and Lebanese officials.

He was greeted by his Syrian counterpart Faisal Mekdad.

"Iran's relations with Syria is strategic and we are trying to expand our cooperation with this country in all areas," Amir-Abdollahian said upon arrival.

"Syria is developing and we will stand by the country again firmly as we stood by it during the era of fighting against terrorism," he said, according to Mehr news.

"In recent weeks, important agreements have been reached on the comprehensive development of Iran-Syria relations," he said.

"Our bilateral agreements will be implemented quickly and the two nations will benefit from it."

Amir-Abdollahian had met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in August, when he also held talks with regime officials over economic cooperation, US sanctions and the war in Syria.

Iran has been a key backer of the Syrian regime in its war against rebels, sending thousands of militia fighters to help prop up Assad.

Assad's brutal war on opposition areas - including the use of chemical weapons and mass killings - has led to US sanctions on entities linked to the Syrian regime.

Iran is also subject to a US embargo related to its nuclear programme and interference in regional conflicts.