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Iran Signs 5 Economic Agreements with Syrian Regime | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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A handout picture provided by the office of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on January 17, 2017 shows Iran’s first vice president, Eshaq Jahangiri (R) meeting with Syrian Prime Minister Imad Khamis in Tehran. AFP


Iran Signs 5 Economic Agreements with Syrian Regime

by | Jan 18, 2017 | Middle East |

Iran Signs 5 Economic Agreements with Syrian Regime

London – Five economic agreements were signed on Tuesday between Iran and Syria, during a visit by Syrian Prime Minister Imad Khamis to Tehran.

Khamis announced that the new agreements fell within a large program for mutual cooperation between the two countries, especially on the levels of infrastructure, investment and reconstruction.

Iran’s Tasnim news agency said that the agreements included a license to an Iranian mobile phone network operator to work in the Arab country, in addition to cooperation programs in other areas, including agriculture, mining as well as oil and gas.

Meanwhile, AFP reported that the five deals included a license for a mobile phone operator, the transfer of 5,000 hectares for the creation of a petrol terminal and 5,000 hectares for farmland in Syria.

It added that Iran was also granted the right to operate phosphate mines in Sharqiya, around 50 kilometers south of the ancient city of Palmyra, in addition to the right to invest in an unnamed Syrian port.

The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) did not elaborate on the content of the agreements, noting that the contracts were signed by Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade Adib Mayyaleh on behalf of the Syrian side and Iranian Minister for Economic Affairs and Finance Ali Tayebnia, in presence of Khamis and Iran’s first Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri.

In a statement following the signing of the contracts, Khamis said both sides agreed on setting up a serious development vision with keeping into consideration the current situation and challenges and activating the standing joint committees, according to SANA.

IRNA, Iran’s official news agency, said that the Syrian prime minister was expected to meet top-ranking Iranian officials, including Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani.

The agency added that a number of high-ranking Syrian officials, including petroleum and mineral resources minister, industry minister, communications and technology minister and head of the country’s central bank have accompanied Khamis in his visit to Tehran.