Iran Denies It’s Bribing Syria To End Peace Talks With Israel
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman on Sunday dismissed as a “media game” recent reports of a secret arms deal with Syria allegedly made in return for an agreement that Damascus would not hold peace talks with Israel.
Mohammad Ali Hosseini refused to provide confirmation of the deal and questioned how the media would know about it if it was confidential.
“This is a media game,” said Hosseini during his weekly news briefing. “It is not confirmed.”
The Arabic newspaper Asharq al-Awsat reported Saturday that Iran would provide $1 billion to Syria for advanced weapons procurement and would assist the country with nuclear research and the development of chemical weapons, with the understanding that Damascus would not negotiate peace with Israel.
The deal was allegedly signed Thursday when Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited Syria, said the newspaper. Israeli media later rebroadcast the report.
Both Syrian President Bashar Assad and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert have publicly called for renewed peace talks recently, but have clashed over the specifics.
Assad has demanded a guarantee that Israel would pull out of all of the Golan Heights, a strategic plateau captured from Syria in the 1967 war. He has also demanded a mediator or “honest broker” for the talks. Olmert has refused to commit in advance to a full withdrawal and has indicated a preference for direct talks.
Syria is Iran’s closest Arab ally. The two countries have had close relations since 1980 when Syria sided with Persian Iran against Iraq in the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war.
Both countries face U.S. accusations of fueling violence in Iraq and supporting Lebanon’s Hezbollah guerrilla group, which Washington labels a terrorist organization. They are also accused of supporting militant anti-Israeli Palestinian groups, like Hamas.
Be respectful of others and their opinions. Inflammatory remarks and inane leftist drivel will be deleted. It ain’t about free speech, remember you’re in a private domain. My website, my prerogative.
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How would the media know if it was confidential? well Mohammed, we have people in our country that leak stuff all the time. and of course they are going to deny this deal. duh
July 22nd, 2007 at 6:55 amHow can you tell when a fascist, islamonazi is lying????
His lips are moving.
Yeah, I know, it’s an old “lawyer joke” but it has so many applications.
How can you tell when a demoCrat is lying?
How can you tell when liberal is lying?
How can you tell when Pelosi, Reid et al are lying?
Same answer every time.
July 22nd, 2007 at 7:03 amOOPS! I misspelled democRat…my bad.
July 22nd, 2007 at 7:03 am“This is a media game,” said Hosseini during his weekly news briefing. “It is not confirmed.”
No its a bumper sticker campaign.
July 22nd, 2007 at 7:30 amI didn’t realize Ahmadinejad was such a pipsqueak — that explains a lot!
Found your blog via Texas Fred and Big White Hat. Keep up the good work over there. Some of us appreciate it.
July 22nd, 2007 at 6:47 pm