Date: Aug 27, 2018 Source: The Daily Star Syria, Iran sign defense, reconstruction deal Agencies TEHRAN: The defense ministers of Iran and Syria have signed an agreement on military cooperation and reconstruction in the war-torn country, Iranian media reported Monday. "Syria is passing through the crisis stage and entering the reconstruction phase," said Iran's Defense Minister Amir Hatami, according to the Tasnim news agency. Hatami is on the second day of a two-day visit to Damascus, during which he held "detailed negotiations" with his counterpart Ali Abdullah Ayoub and Syrian President Bashar Assad, according to Tasnim. The "defense and technical agreement" provides for the continued "presence and participation" of Iran in Syria, Hatami added. Tehran has provided steady political, financial, and military backing to Assad as he has fought back a seven-year uprising.