Mekdad was speaking during a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian following their meeting held in the Syrian capital Damascus.
Mekdad said that they had exchanged views on ways to expand mutual cooperation in all fields, including economy, as part of efforts to counter “illegal and unilateral sanctions” in place by Western countries.
He hailed Iran's alliance with Syria, saying that the two sides should remove any obstacle in the way of boosting their relations.
The top Syrian diplomat said that his talks with Amirabdollahian covered Palestine as well, adding that Iran and Syria stand by the Palestinian nation, and that the Israeli regime’s aggression and hostile policies against the Palestinian people should come to an end.
Mekdad referred to Israeli attacks on Syria, which have continued over the past several years despite repeated warnings by Damascus.
He said “Syria will not forget the military aggression, will respond to these crimes at the proper time and will inflict heavy losses on the occupying forces of the Zionist regime, which they will never forget.”
Mekdad, meanwhile, called Turkey’s military presence in northern Syria “a kind of occupation”, saying that Syria’s sovereignty and independence should be respected in any political talks between the two countries.
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