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Assad and Ahmadinejad in Tehran
Photo: Reuters

Assad in Tehran: Talks with Israel won't affect relations with Iran

Syrian president meets Ahmadinejad, says Israel, US 'conspiring in Middle East'. Iranian president: We won't retreat one iota from our nuclear rights

Syrian President Bashar Assad met his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Saturday shortly after arriving in Tehran for a two-day visit.

 

Ahmadinejad's office quoted Assad as saying during the meeting that "Israel and the US are conspiring in the region (Middle East) and we should be wary of this."

 

As for the recent prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hizbullah, the Syrian leader said it was "one of the achievements of the resistance forces and brought about the failure of the US and its allies in the region.

 

"The Zionist regime is not strong and the states can obtain their rights through resistance and determination," he added.

 

During the meeting Assad stressed that the ongoing indirect talks between Israel and Syria under Turkish mediation would not affect Damascus' ties to Iran. "Syria is working to embolden its relations with Tehran and is determined to maintain its cooperation and coordination with Iran."

 

Addressing Iran's nuclear program, Assad said "according to the international treaties, every country, including Iran, has the right to enrich uranium and operate a nuclear reactor."

 


Assad (L) greeted by Iranian leader (Photo: AFP)

 

Ahmadinejad said Assad's visit would help boost relations between Iran and Syria, adding "the Zionist regime has lost its existential philosophy and cannot guide the US and the European countries in the region anymore. Therefore, naturally it is on the verge of collapse.

 

"The liberation of all occupied lands, the return of the Palestinian (refugees), the establishment of a Palestinian state and the collapse of the Zionist regime are not considered by the region's nations to be goals that are unattainable," the Iranian president said.

 

On the day of an informal deadline set by Western officials in a row over Tehran's atomic ambitions, Ahmadinejad said Iran would not retreat "one iota" from its nuclear rights.

 

"In whichever negotiation we take part ... It is unequivocally with the view to the realization of Iran's nuclear right, and the Iranian nation would not retreat one iota from its rights," he said.

 

The deadline was set on July 19 by the UN Security Council's five permanent members plus Germany.

 

On a request from France, Assad promised earlier in July to try to persuade Iran to offer proof to the West that it isn't developing nuclear weapons.

 

Iran denies the charge and says uranium enrichment is only for electricity production.

 


פרסום ראשון: 08.02.08, 19:40
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