Tehran, April 27, IRNA � Head of the Strategic Research Center of the Expediency Council Ali-Akbar Velayati said on Wednesday that since Damascus got engaged in the fight against terrorism, the Islamic Republic of Iran has sided with Syria and will continue cooperating with it based on its commitment.

Speaking in a meeting with party leaders and ethnic group chiefs of Syria, Velayati thanked the Syrian people for their resistance and efforts to preserve the territorial integrity, dignity and independence of the Muslim and Arab country of Syria.

He said, 'Your perseverance and resistance against aggressors and those linked with foreigners is highly praiseworthy. Due to their poor insight, many regional and international supervisors could not imagine that the dignitaries, ethnic groups and Syrian people from all walks of life will seriously resist in a world war.'

Despite a lot of pressures exerted on the Syrian people and legal government, they have continued standing firm, forcing the enemy to recognize the rights of the Syrian people to decide their fate and they have no other option but to admit the legitimate government of the country, he said.

Congratulating the people of Syria on holding recent parliamentary elections, Velayati said, 'Despite all domestic and foreign pressures, you were successful and this showed adherence of the government and nation of Syria to law.'

Elsewhere in his address, Velayati said Mr. Bashar Assad was re-elected two years ago as Syrian president for a seven year term and 'We believe that he should continue his legal term of presidency and no foreign country has the right to interfere in domestic affairs and fate of the Syrian people.'

Velayati said, 'The Islamic Republic of Iran has repeatedly announced explicitly that it is not the business of the US and certain regional states to decide who should be Syrian president and that's only the legal right of the country's people to make a decision in this regard and anything falling short of this is not acceptable.

He hoped that all parts of Syria occupied by terrorists will be liberated and Syria's facilities will be put at the disposal of its people including ethnic groups.

Iran's support for Syria, Iraq and Lebanon is merely aimed at helping them without havig a covetous eye on their territories as Iran's aspirations are based on respecting all Muslims, all nations, all borders and countries and their boundaries, he said.

By IRNA