Syria could relay Iran stance to West

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

Syria says it would provide the West with details of Iran's nuclear stance should it be necessary for Damascus to act as a mediator.

In a Sunday press conference with his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President Bashar al-Assad made clear the objectives for his two-day visit to Tehran.

According to al-Assad, Syria's aims were to first understand the Iranian position and then outline if there is any possibility of playing a (mediator) role or not.

He stressed that he did not bear "any message from any Western official"for Iranian officials.

In mid-July, reports suggested that French President Nicolas Sarkozy had asked his Syrian counterpart to relay an EU message to Iran in order to help resolve Tehran's nuclear standoff with the West.

Western powers accuse Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) signatory Iran of pursuing a military nuclear program. This is while the UN nuclear watchdog declares Tehran is enriching uranium to 3 percent, a rate consistent with electricity generation.

Iran cites diplomacy as the only acceptable means for clarifying the nature of its nuclear program and walking out of the nuclear standoff.

Al-Assad, for his part, said he believes strengthening dialogue is the only solution to the row.

Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany (G5+1), in a July 19 meeting in Geneva, discussed a western package of incentives requiring Tehran to suspend enrichment in return for political and economic benefits.

President Ahmadinejad, in his meeting with his Syrian counterpart, said Sunday that Iran is 'serious' in talks with the West. "If negotiations are based on the law, they will bear practical results," state television quoted the Iranian president as saying.