Damascus: The leaders of Iran and Syria reaffirmed their support for "Palestinian resistance" on Tuesday, a defiant message to the US and its Mideast allies who are uneasy over Washington's efforts to forge closer ties with the hard-line government in Tehran.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad also met with the chiefs of Hamas and other Damascus-based Palestinian hardline groups during his visit to Syria. Iran is a strong supporter of Islamic fighters in the region, including Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah.
Ahmadinejad's visit to Syria comes as the US is trying to improve strained ties with the two longtime adversaries.
Two US envoys, Jeffrey Feltman and Daniel Shapiro, left Washington on Tuesday for Syria for their second visit since March to explore ways to ease tensions between the United States and Syria, the State Department said.
The envoys are to be in Damascus on Thursday, Syria's ambassador to Washington, Emad Mustapha, said.
Ahmadinejad and his top Arab ally Syrian President Bashar Al Assad made little specific mention of American outreach as they sat together at a press conference following their talks.
But the hardline Iranian leader boasted that countries that tried for years to pressure Iran and Syria now say they need their support to solve regional problems.
"Those who one day called Iran and Syria part of the axis of evil now want to develop relations with Iran and Syria," said Ahmadinejad.
He also said the two countries' alliance was achieving "victories" in preventing "the big powers' offensive to dominate the region."
"Syria and Iran have been from the very beginning united and in agreement to stand on the side of the Palestinian resistance," Ahmadinejad said.
"They will continue to do so. We see that the resistance will continue until all occupied territories are liberated."
Ahmadinejad later held talks with Hamas' political leader Khalid Mesha'al and the head of the smaller hardline Islamic Jihad. The Iranian leader "affirmed Iran's support for the Palestinian people and their resistance," said Ziad Nakhaleh, a senior Islamic Jihad official.
