Syria, Iran leaders sign long-term agreements

The presidents of Iran and Syria signed a series of long-term cooperation agreements on Wednesday to bolster economic ties between the two allies. Iran's Ebrahim Raisi, leading a large economic and political delegation, met with his Syrian counterpart, Bashar Assad, after landing in the war-torn country for a two-day visit — an Iranian president's first visit to Damascus since 2010.

The two signed agreements and memorandums of understanding related to several sectors, including oil, agriculture, railways and free trade zones.Iran's state-owned railway company has long aspired to expand its network through neighbouring Iraq and Syria, linking it to the Syrian port of Lattakia on the Mediterranean Sea to boost trade.