Syria Dismisses Alleged Tension with Iran

Syrian Vice President Farouk al-Shara dismissed on Tuesday US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s recent allegations about existence of tension between his country and Iran.Shara made the denial at a lecture on the occasion of the Journalists Day here, underlining that there is mutual understanding, agreement and common point of view between Damascus and Tehran, Xinhua said.

Syria enjoyed strategic relations (with Iran), which are based on understanding and accordance in visions regarding regional issues, he added.

According to the Beirut-based daily Al-Akhbar, Rice recently told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that Iran and Syria are engaged in a race to obtain more influence in the region, and the tension may lead to elimination of one of these two sides.

Shara also reiterated Syria’s position towards regional issues, particularly those in Iraq, the Palestinian territories and Lebanon.