Syrian Water Resources Minister Bassam Hana said here Wednesday Syrian government supports any Iranian company interested in making investments in water and sewage network of Syria.

The visiting Syrian minister made the comment in a meeting with Iran’s Energy Minister Majid Namjou here on Wednesday evening, adding, 'Our visit of the Islamic Republic of Iran is taking place under certain conditions and in this visit we are asking for the expansion of bilateral cooperation in the field of water resources.'

He emphasized that just as always the Syrian side is in favor of expanding the level of bilateral cooperation and relations, adding, 'When we come to Iran we feel quite at home.'

Bassam Hana reiterated, 'Among the most important objectives of our visit of Iran there is the two countries' shared policies about the construction and expansion of water and sewage networks.'

Referring to the positive negotiations between Iranian and Syrian officials in the visit, he emphasized, 'Very effective steps were taken for construction of joint factories in Syria during this visit and in near future their construction work would begin.'

Referring to the Syrian delegation's negotiations and reached agreements with the Iranian energy minister, he said, 'Keeping in mind the Iranian technicians’ experience and capabilities, it has been agreed that the Syrian technicians would be respectively trained in Iran.'

The Islamic Republic of Iran's Energy Minister Namjou, too, said in the meeting, 'During the course of the past 34 years Syria has proved that it is a very good and reliable friend for Iran, and we would always remain side by side of our true friends.'

The Iranian official referred to the agreements reached between the two countries and the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) last Thursday, adding, 'Iran would participate in construction of dams and factories that would solve the water and sewage problems of the Syrian nation.'

Noting that a large number of Iranian companies are engaged in activities in Syria, he said, 'In order to increase the presence of Iranian technicians in Syria we have asked Damascus to lift the existing obstacles.'

He emphasized, 'Iran ranks fourth in designing and construction of dams and can definitely solve Syria’s problems in this respect.'

The IRI Energy Minister Namjou added, 'We have no problem regarding the science and technology of generating and distributing electricity, quite needless of foreign countries.'

Syria and Iran are strategic allies. Syria is often called Iran's 'closest ally', the Arab nationalism ideology of Syria's ruling Ba’th Party notwithstanding. During the Iran–Iraq War, Syria sided with non-Arab Iran against its enemy Iraq and was isolated by Saudi Arabia and some of the Arab countries, with the exceptions of Libya, Lebanon, Algeria, Sudan and Oman. Iran and Syria have had a strategic alliance ever since, partially due to their common animosity towards Saddam Hussein and coordination against the United States and Israel. Syria and Iran both support the Hezbollah of Lebanon, which borders Israel.

On 16 June 2006 the defense ministers of Iran and Syria signed an agreement for military cooperation against what they called the 'common threats' presented by Israel and the United States. Details of the agreement were not specified, however the Iranian defense Minister Najjar said 'Iran considers Syria's security its own security, and we consider our defense capabilities to be those of Syria.' The visit also resulted in the sale of Iranian military hardware to Syria. In addition to receiving military hardware, Iran has consistently invested billions of dollars into the Syrian economy. The Syrian leadership, including President Assad himself, belongs predominantly to the Alawite branch of Shi'a Islam. Currently, Iran is involved in implementing several industrial projects in Syria, including cement factories, car assembly lines, power plants, and silo construction. Iran also plans to set up a joint Iranian–Syrian bank in the future.

On 17 February 2007, Presidents Ahmadinejad and Assad met in Tehran. Ahmadinejad afterwards declared that they would form an alliance to combat US and Israeli conspiracies against the Islamic world.

In late June Supreme Leader Ali Khamene'ie, stated in regards to the uprising: 'In Syria, the hand of America and Israel is evident;' and in regards to the al-Assad regime: “Wherever a movement is Islamic, populist, and anti-American, we support it.' Other Iranian officials have made similar pronouncements identifying the US government as the origin of the uprising. However, in late August, the Iranian government gave its 'first public sign' of concern over Syrians' handling of its crisis when Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi issued a statement including the Syrian government in the list of states he urged to 'answer to the demands of its people.'