(CNN) The President of war-torn Syria has accepted a billion-dollar helping hand from his supporters in Iran.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad signed a law ratifying a $1 billion credit line from Iran, Syrian state-run news agency SANA reported Wednesday.

The deal, which will help Syria buy goods and fund projects, was signed on May 19 and approved by the Syrian parliament. The agreement was between two state-owned banks, the Syrian Commercial Bank and Export Development Bank of Iran, SANA reported.