Monday, June 19, 2006

Links between Syria and Iran tighten?

Washington DC, June 13, 2006/UPI/

Syrian Defense Minister Hasan Turkamani began a four-day visit to Iran Monday as the two states, both viewed with displeasure by Washington, draw closer. Turkamani was accompanied by a high-level military delegation.

AKI news agency reported on June 12 that Turkamani's agenda is expected to focus on regional issues including the insurgency in Iraq, which the Bush administration charges both countries are covertly assisting. Both, however, deny the assertion.

Turkamani was invited to Teheran by Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najar. European diplomatic sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, believe that military cooperation between Syria and Iran is "growing" rapidly and will be a major topic in discussions between Turkamani and Iranian officials.

The diplomatic sources said that Iran sent Syria a consignment of four destroyers a week ago.

In May Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki visited Syria, where he held discussions with top Syrian officials, including Bashar al-Assad.

Copyrights © 2003-2006 - Reform Party of Syria (RPS) except where otherwise noted - all rights reserved.

Also see this related article on the NCF Syria blog.

No comments: