Post by Tulameen on Feb 17, 2005 11:32:51 GMT -5
Iran to aid Syria against threats
Iran has vowed to back Syria against "challenges and threats" as both countries face strong US pressure.
"We are ready to help Syria on all grounds to confront threats," Iranian Vice-President Mohammad Reza Aref said after meeting Syrian PM Naji al-Otari.
But Washington said that if Iran and Syria had aimed their remarks at the US they were "misreading the issue".
Both countries should focus on meeting their international obligations, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.
"Their problem is not with the United States, it's with the international community. Both Syria and Iran ... need to abide by the commitments they have made," he said.
The US has accused Tehran of seeking nuclear weapons and has withdrawn its envoy to Damascus.
"To point to Syria in a terrorist act that aims at destabilising both Syria and Lebanon is truly like blaming the US for 9/11"
Buthaina Shaaban
Syrian cabinet minister[/i]
US tensions with Syria soared after Monday's killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in a bombing, although Washington has not directly accused Damascus of responsibility.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told a Senate foreign affairs committee hearing the decision to recall the ambassador was a culmination of a "long series of problems" with Syria - notably allegations that Damascus has harboured Iraqi insurgents and allowed them to cross into Iraq to fight against US troops.
Earlier, the Russian Defence Ministry confirmed it was discussing the possibility of selling missiles to Syria.
Talks are said to be focusing on a short-range anti-aircraft missile system, known as Strelets.
Iran has vowed to back Syria against "challenges and threats" as both countries face strong US pressure.
"We are ready to help Syria on all grounds to confront threats," Iranian Vice-President Mohammad Reza Aref said after meeting Syrian PM Naji al-Otari.
But Washington said that if Iran and Syria had aimed their remarks at the US they were "misreading the issue".
Both countries should focus on meeting their international obligations, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.
"Their problem is not with the United States, it's with the international community. Both Syria and Iran ... need to abide by the commitments they have made," he said.
The US has accused Tehran of seeking nuclear weapons and has withdrawn its envoy to Damascus.
"To point to Syria in a terrorist act that aims at destabilising both Syria and Lebanon is truly like blaming the US for 9/11"
Buthaina Shaaban
Syrian cabinet minister[/i]
US tensions with Syria soared after Monday's killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in a bombing, although Washington has not directly accused Damascus of responsibility.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told a Senate foreign affairs committee hearing the decision to recall the ambassador was a culmination of a "long series of problems" with Syria - notably allegations that Damascus has harboured Iraqi insurgents and allowed them to cross into Iraq to fight against US troops.
Earlier, the Russian Defence Ministry confirmed it was discussing the possibility of selling missiles to Syria.
Talks are said to be focusing on a short-range anti-aircraft missile system, known as Strelets.