President Assad briefed on Iran's peaceful N-program

Tehran, Aug 3, IRNA - President Bashar al-Assad of Syria said on Sunday he was briefed on details of Iran's peaceful nuclear program during his meetings with senior Iranian officials.

The Syrian president made the remarks in a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad held prior to his seen off ceremony.

President Assad arrived here on a two-day official visit on Saturday
heading a high-ranking delegation.

He has, so far, conferred with his Iranian counterpart President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki.

The Syrian president said that in his recent talks with the French
officials he had stressed that Iran's nuclear standoff with the West
"should have been solved through dialogue."

He said he decided to visit Iran to become further informed about the
country's peaceful nuclear plan "so that he could comment on the issue if he was specifically questioned by any other parties."

"We are here to hear Tehran's views on the issue and see if we can play any role in this regard" President Assad said stressing that he would "transfer Iran's stand to the other side as it was made by the Iranian officials."

President Assad reiterated that Damascus was committed to help settle
Iran-West nuclear standoff based on international agreements.

He stressed that all members of the International Atomic Energy
Agency, including Iran, "has the right to possess peaceful nuclear
energy and make studies to that effect."