At a time when Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Arif refused to intervene in Iraq with the aim of changing its regime, his Syrian counterpart, Abdul Halim Khaddam, called for strengthening relations between the two countries to confront “suspicious attempts by some forces to exploit the events of September 11 for their own suspicious purposes,” criticizing at the same time American policy. In the region
Yesterday, Syrian and Iranian officials held a session of talks in the Syrian capital, which, according to Iranian sources, focused on “the latest developments on the regional scene and bilateral relations.”
The sources revealed to Al-Rai Al-Aam that Khaddam “called for the continuation of relations between the two countries and for Tehran and Damascus to take identical positions regarding international issues,” especially with regard to the events that emerged after last September 11, “to confront any attempts by some forces.” The world is trying to exploit these incidents to achieve their own suspicious purposes,” in a hint to Israel
The sources said that Khaddam "criticized the policy of individual and authoritarian decision-making that Washington has followed since the September events in its dealings with the world, especially the Islamic and Arab world, calling for the solidarity of Islamic and Arab countries to confront Washington's policies in the region."
In joint press statements made by both Arif and Khaddam after the end of their talks, the Iranian Vice President said, “The purpose of his visit to Damascus is to meet and discuss with fellow Syrian officials, especially in light of the developments taking place in the region and the world, in order to take common and identical positions regarding these developments.”
Arif denied that his talks with Khaddam touched on the issue of Hezbollah, but stressed that "Syria and Iran support the resistance in the region."
Regarding the rapprochement taking place between Iraq and Iran, which coincides with the increase in the frequency of American threats to the two countries, Arif said: “Iranian foreign policy has always sought to overcome old differences and resolve them within an atmosphere of friendship to achieve a better future full of peace and stability,” noting that there are negotiations with Iraq, “and I hope they will be achieved.” "The desired fruit as soon as possible."
Arif considered that the American threats to Iran "are not new and have been continuing since the victory of the Islamic Revolution, but they have taken on a harsher character during the era of the current President George Bush," stressing that the Iranian position regarding these threats "is as it was before and has not changed."
The Iranian official, who is visiting Syria for the first time since taking office last year, rejected American interference in Iraqi affairs in order to overthrow the Baghdad regime and said: “We do not agree to any foreign interference in any country, and we believe that the future of any country must be determined by its people, and we reject any American intervention in Iraq
In turn, Khaddam commented on the American threats towards Iran and said: “They have existed for a long time, but what is said is not important. Rather, what is important is our position regarding these threats, which is a consistent position.”
The Syrian Vice President stressed that "resisting occupation is a legitimate right for all peoples, just as national independence is a legitimate right for all peoples, and there is no force capable of taking away these rights from peoples or destroying them."
The Iranian First Vice President arrived in the Syrian capital yesterday on an official three-day visit, during which he will meet, in addition to servants of President al-Assad, and Prime Minister Muhammad Mustafa Miro. He will also participate in the celebrations of the Iranian embassy in Damascus on the anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution.
