LOC22:40
19:40 GMT
TEHRAN, Nov 25 (KUNA) -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday that only the Syrian people should decide the political future of the country without what he called "foreign powers' interference."
This came during a telephone conversation between Rouhani and his Syrian counterpart Bashar Al-Assad, state-run TV stated.
Rouhani called on the Syrian opposition to exploit peacefully the available opportunity and contribute to building the future of Syria.
He affirmed his country's readiness to contribute effectively to the reconstruction of that Arab country.
Rouhani reiterated that Iran stands side by side with Syria in the fight against terror, describing the relations between Tehran and Damascus as "strategic."
He pointed to the success of the Sochi summit on the Syrian crisis, saying that the meeting hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin with the participation of the Iranian and Turkish leaders was an "appropriate" step.
He noted that the three countries agreed on holding an intra-Syrian dialogue conference amid the current conditions that aims to form an appropriate move in the context of maintaining stability and security inside Syria.
For his part, al-Assad referred to the destruction of the last strongholds of the so-called Islamic State in Syria.
He said the victory was achieved due to efforts by those supported the Syrian people in its war against terrorists. (end)
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