As the Iranian economy continues to plummet under the weight of the sanctions, with declining oil prices and an ever deepening recession, the Minister of Health, Hassan Qazizadeh Hashemi traveled to Syria and Lebanon in early January to assure both countries that Iran will continue to supply medicine and medical equipment, build two medical schools and train their medical staff in Iran.

According to Tehran Times, Hashemi confirmed that “Iran will continue exporting medicines and medical equipment necessary to meet the needs of the Syrian people within a long-term strategy.  Hashemi who had traveled to Lebanon prior to his visit to Damascus, met Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut.  There, he said Iran is going to launch two medical schools in Lebanon and also pave the way for the export of medical goods and equipment there.  Underlining Iran’s support for Lebanon over the past 37 years, Hashemi said Tehran will never hold back any aid. Nasrallah, for his part, thanked the Iranian nation for their support.”

According to Iranian News Agency IRNA, after the meeting the Iranian and Syrian health ministers met with reporters and “the Syrian Minister Nizar Yazigi, noted that the required amounts of medicines and medical equipment needed by the Syrian Health Ministry are being delivered through the Iranian credit line, adding that it was agreed during the talks on granting scholarships for students and facilitating measures to speed up the importing of ambulances, in addition to holding short courses for training Syria medical cadres in Iran.”