Iran's Raisi signs strategic oil and trade agreements with Syria

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi visited Syria, signing long-term cooperation agreements on oil and other sectors to bolster economic ties between the two allies. Iran has been a main backer of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government since the 2011 uprising turned into full-blown civil war. The deal is important for Syria, whose economy has hit an all-time low over the past decade. Raisi's visit comes as some Arab countries, including Egypt and Saudi Arabia, have been opening up to Assad, and Iran and Saudi Arabia reached an agreement to re-establish diplomatic relations and reopen embassies after seven years of tensions.