Syria's Assad holding urgent talks in Iran

NICOSIA — Syrian President Bashar Assad is holding intense discussion in Teheran on his first visit to Iran since he succeeded his late father in June. The trip was moved up in order to coordinate the two nations's response to a new U.S. administration and the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

Other factors giving urgency to the meetings are:

• Israel's warning to Syria against an attack by the Hizbullah;
• The reopening by Iraq of its oil pipeline to Syria providing oil at a 50 percent discount;
• The upcoming election in Israel in which leading candidate Ariel Sharon has vowed he would never negotiate as long as his nation was threatened by the kind of violence that has raged since September.

The talks are said to be focusing on strategic relations between Damascus and Teheran including joint projects in missile development and nonconventional weapons as well as control of Lebanon.

"Teheran-Damascus relations are now developing in various fields in the best possible manner and the two countries are now preparing to witness even greater coordination," Assad said.

The sources said the Syrian military has been on high alert over the last few weeks amid Israeli threats to strike Hizbullah and Syrian positions in Lebanon. They said the alert also stems from Assad's concern that the election of Likud challenger Ariel Sharon will bring the region closer to war.

The London-based A-Sharq Al Awsat reported on Wednesday that the Iranian leadership is concerned over the resumption of the Iraqi-Syrian oil pipeline, which reportedly has the capacity to transport four million barrels a day. The newspaper said Iran is concerned over the affect of such oil smuggling on world prices.

Iranian officials said Assad met Khatami on Wednesday and meets Khamenei on Thursday morning. Assad is accompanied by Vice President Abdel Halim Khaddam and Foreign Minister Farouk A-Shaara.

Syria's ambassador to Teheran, Ahmad Hassan, said the summit is focusing on "reinforcing political relations and links in the current regional context." These include the boosting of trade, which is estimated at $20 million a year.