Syria's President Bashar al-Assad (R) and his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi sign a memoranda of understanding on "long-term strategic cooperation" following a joint press conference in Damascus on May 3, 2023. - The visiting Iranian president hailed al-Assad for overcoming sanctions and achieving "victory" in the country's 12-year-long civil war, in which Tehran has been a major ally. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP)