Syria president in Iran for talks with new counterpart

AFP: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Iran’s leading Arab
ally, arrived in Tehran Sunday for talks with his newly sworn-in counterpart Mahmood Ahmadinejad, state radio said.
It was the first visit by a foreign leader since Ahmadinejad took the oath of office Saturday.
AFP

TEHRAN – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Iran’s leading Arab ally, arrived in Tehran Sunday for talks with his newly sworn-in counterpart Mahmood Ahmadinejad, state radio said.

It was the first visit by a foreign leader since Ahmadinejad took the oath of office Saturday.

During his two-day visit, Assad is to discuss the situation in neighbouring Iraq, the Palestinian territories, Lebanon and the Shiite militant group Hezbollah, Iranian state television said Saturday.

Iran and Syria both face US sanctions for their alleged sponsorship of terrorism and quest for non-conventional weapons. They also stand accused of playing a spoiling role in their shared neighbour Iraq.

Syria was among the first Arab countries to hail the upset June election victory of the hardline Ahmadinejad, with Assad saying he was confident of “stronger friendship and cooperation.”