Iranian Foreign Ministry: We call on the new authority in Damascus to abide by the agreements and contracts concluded

When Iranian media raised the issue of Syria’s debt to Iran amounting to $50 billion, Tuesday, during the weekly press conference of the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, he denied that the amount was $50 billion without denying the existence of debts on Syria, and called on the new government in Damascus to abide by its commitments according to the agreements and contracts concluded with the Bashar al Assad regime, at a time when relations between Syria and Iran, which has stood by the previous government since 2011 with many, equipment, money and militias, are shrouded in mystery.

In this regard, Baghaei said, “Figures such as $50 billion in debts owed by Syria to Iran that are being circulated are extremely exaggerated.”

The spokesman continued, saying, “The agreements, treaties and memoranda of understanding that are signed between the two countries are not between groups or interim governments, but rather between the two states, so all these obligations and duties are in place and cannot disappear… Any regime or government that assumes power in any state is obligated, under the principle of state succession, which is a principle recognized in international law, to transfer these rights and duties”.

While the spokesman said that the opening of the Iranian embassy in Damascus requires arrangements, including the decision of the new authorities in Syria, and stated that his country had no imperial ambitions in Syria, he stressed, “Certainly, this issue (agreements and treaties) will remain on our agenda”.