MNA� Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad thanked Iran for its support in fighting terrorism in Syria, saying that without Tehran�s help, Damascus would have not made such great victories against terrorists.

The Syrian diplomat made the remarks in a meeting with Iranian Leader�s senior adviser Ali Akbar Velayati on Tuesday morning in Tehran, noting that his visit aimed at delivering Syrian President Bashar Assad�s greetings to Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Khamenei and the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

Mekdad deemed the recent battle in Syria's southern province of Rif Dimashq �fateful�, and hailed the liberation operations around Hama and Damascus as �very significant�, adding �the Syrian government managed to liberate those areas without firing one single bullet, and we are still trying to liberate other occupied territories and are hoping to hear joyous news in the coming weeks.�

The Syrian diplomat highlighted Iran�s support in combating terrorism, adding �the alliance between Iran and Syria has formed under severe [outside] pressure and propaganda attacks, because they wish to prevent us from gaining the ultimate victory.�

Mekdad went on to add, �alongside Iran�s support, we have the backing of Hezbollah and Russian partners, who had an effective role in Syria�s victories.�

�Everyone knows that certain Persian Gulf littoral states have provided great financial aid to terrorists and armed groups against the Syrian people,� said Mekdad. �These very governments are now trying to separate us from our friends such as Iran, but Syria has proved that it will never let go of its allies in difficult times.�

He went on to add, �allies of Saudi Arabia and some other Persian Gulf littoral states armed and deployed murderers, while our allies, including Iran, Russia and Hezbollah, are the ones defending Syria�s territorial integrity.�

Mekdad further stressed that without Syria�s allies fighting against terrorists, the reach of terrorism would have spread all across the globe by now.