Syria said today Iran had a right to acquire nuclear technology for peaceful means and demanded Israel be stripped of its suspected nuclear arsenal.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad held talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad at the start of a two-day visit to Damascus, his first since he took office in August.
"We support the right of Iran and any state in the world to acquire peaceful technology," Mr Assad told a joint news conference after the talks. "Countries who oppose this gave no convincing reason, regardless of whether it is legitimate or not."
The United States and the European Union's three biggest powers - Britain, France and Germany - said this month Iran's resumption of nuclear research meant it should be referred to the UN Security Council, which could impose sanctions.
Iran removed the UN seals on its uranium enrichment equipment but says it has no intention of building nuclear arms and seeks atomic energy only to generate electricity.
Mr Assad also renewed Syria's call for a Middle East free of nuclear weapons and said "the beginning should be with Israel". The Jewish state is widely believed to have nuclear weapons.
Syria faces pressure from the Security Council, which passed a resolution in October demanding it co-operate fully with a UN inquiry into the February 14th assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri or risk further action.
Syria has denied any involvement in the murder but has said it will not allow investigators to question Mr Assad in the case.