Assad with Iran's Ahmadinejad
Photo: AP
Lebanese sources say Syrian President Bashar Assad's visit
to Tehran last week was a failure due to disagreements with Iran
on the indirect negotiations
between Syria
and Israel,
the London-based Arabic-language newspaper al-Hayat.
According to the report, the Iranians demanded to receive information on the details of the talks so as to know the exact issues being discussed.
The sources, who were updated on the talks in Tehran, said that Israel's recent threats against Hizbullah and Syria were aimed at creating counter-pressure to that exerted by Iran in regards to its talks with the Jewish state.
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Tehran is also concerned about Syria's recent openness to the West, particularly in light of Assad's visit to Paris last month. The Iranians say that this building relationship was initiated by Israel in order to tempt Damascus to sever its ties with Iran.
During his visit to Tehran, Assad expressed his sympathy to the Iranian. He said that "Israel and the United States are plotting in the region and we must be careful." He added that "the Zionist regime is not strong and the countries can achieve their rights through resistance and determination."
According to the Lebanese sources, the Syrian president's recent visit to Turkey was not planned ahead and was aimed at asking the Turks to help Damascus overcome the difficulties in its talks with Israel, due to Iran's concern over the negotiations.
Meanwhile, the Qatar-based newspaper al-Qatan reported Sunday that Syria and Lebanon were expected to restore their relations.
According to the report, new Lebanese President Michel Suleiman has come to the realization that the tensions between the two countries over the past three years have had a negative influence on his country.
Suleiman will arrive in Damascus on Wednesday on his first official visit as president. He and Assad are expected to agree on resuming the operations of the two countries' joint "supreme committee".