Syrian President Bashar al-Assad hailed the nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1 nations, which will provide Iran with billions of dollars of sanctions relief, as a “great victory,” Agence France-Presse reported today. Iran extended the beleaguered Syrian president a $1 billion line of credit last week.

Assad said the deal would be a “major turning point in the history of Iran, the region and the world.” He added that it provided “clear recognition on the part of world powers of the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme, while preserving the national rights of your people and confirming the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran.” “We are confident Iran will continue, and with greater momentum, to support the peoples’ just issues and to work towards establishing peace and stability in the region and the world,” Assad said.

Assad’s remarks were addressed to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani.

The United Nations reported last week that over four million refugees have been driven from their homes during Syria’s civil war. Iran supports the Assad regime in the war, both militarily and financially. Last week, Hassan Nasrallah, leader of the Iran-backed Lebanese terrorist organization Hezbollah, which is supporting Assad in his efforts to hold onto power, praised the anticipated deal, saying, “A rich and strong Iran… will be able to stand by its allies and friends, and the peoples of the region, especially the resistance in Palestine, more than in any time in the past.”

A photographic exhibit, sponsored by both houses of Congress, will open tomorrow “to recognize the atrocities and crimes against humanity suffered by Syrian civilians.”

[Photo: BBC News / YouTube ]