March 15, 2019
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenehi shows unusual affection for Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. Assad, who rarely leaves Syria, was making his first visit to Iran February 25 since the Islamic Republic started providing military forces to defend his regime in August 2012. Assad said he made the visit to thank Iran for its help. Khamenehi is normally shown seated in a chair next to his foreign visitors. The Iran Times could not find any other photo showing Khamenehi being so affectionate with a foreign visitor.
