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Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (L, Front) meets with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (R, Front) in Damascus, Syria, on April 16, 2019. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday denounced the recent U.S. move to designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a "terrorist organization." Bashar al-Assad made the remarks at a meeting with visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, reported the state news agency SANA. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalanai)

TEHRAN, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif started a trip to Syria and Turkey on Tuesday to discuss bilateral ties, Tasnim news agency reported.

On the first leg of his trip, Zarif will visit Damascus, capital of Syria, for meetings with top Syrian officials, including Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his Syrian counterpart Walid Muallem.

The two-day trip will take the Iranian foreign minister later to Turkey.

During his trip, Zarif will discuss major issues in the bilateral relations, including the agreements agreed upon by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his Syrian and Turkish counterparts.

His visits are also aimed at coordinating policies on the regional and international developments.?