Syria, Hezbollah Hail Nuclear Deal With Iran

Syria and the Lebanese Shi'ite Hezbollah movement hailed on Saturday a framework nuclear agreement reached by their ally Iran with six world powers.

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Syria's state news agency SANA quoted an unnamed official as saying that Damascus "highly appreciates the efforts made by representatives of the Iranian government in advocating their country's right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes."

Tehran has staunchly backed Syrian President Bashar Assad since a 2011 uprising against his regime.

Hezbollah, meanwhile, called the nuclear deal a "victory for the will of free people." The movement's Deputy Secretary-General, Naem Kassem, said the agreement is also "a victory for the rejection of dependency on the West."

"It is a big victory for Iran and a recognition of its status and role in the region and the world," Kassem told a ceremony in Beirut.

The agreement, reached on Thursday, means that Iran will significantly scale down its nuclear program for a core period of 10 years in return for the lifting of sanctions that have battered its economy.

Egypt, a regional powerhouse, reacted cautiously to the deal. "Egypt has not seen yet the full details of the framework agreement," a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

"Egypt hopes a final agreement will be reached by June 30 to help achieve stability in the Middle East and halt an endless armament race."

Israel, an arch-foe of Hezbollah and Iran, has criticized the initial pact, calling it a "grave danger" to the world.