Syria's President Bashar al-Assad speaks at a press conference in Damascus. (Reuters Photo)

DAMASCUS, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Wednesday the military victory on the ground is shift ing the international stance toward the Syrian crisis, according to the state news agency SANA.

Assad made the remarks during his meeting Wednesday with Hossein Jaberi Ansari, Iranian Assistant Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs.

During the meeting, Assad said that the terrorist project in Syria has fallen and that there is no going back until restoring security and peace to Syria.

The president also hailed the support by Iran and other "friendly countries" to Syria in the fight against terrorism.

Assad's remarks come at a time when Western powers are prioritizing fighting the terror group of Islamic State (IS), with some voices dropping their long-standing demand that President Assad must step down, and may even accept elections in which he is allowed to stand again.

This comes as the Syrian army and allied Iranian-backed fighters have made sweeping victory against the IS militants in the Syrian Desert.

UN Special Envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura said Wednesday that the IS sway is shrinking in Syria.