Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallim (right) with his Iranian counterpart, Manuchehr Mottaki (epa)
May 18, 2006 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki met with Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus today for talks on Iran's controversial nuclear program and the situation in Iraq.
Mottaki said the two sides agreed on the necessity of developing bilateral relations with Iraq.
Both countries have been accused by the United States of failing to secure their borders with Iraq and allowing militants insurgents to cross into the war-torn country.
The meeting comes as both Iran and Syria are facing pressure from Western countries -- on Iran to halt its nuclear program, and on Syria to establish diplomatic relations with Lebanon.
(AP)