Syrian President Bashar al-Assad today warned that any attack on Iran would be a "disaster" and pledged to help find a peaceful solution between the West and Tehran to the nuclear dispute.
"Nobody in the world will be able to bear the consequences of any action that is not peaceful because it would not result in a solution but in a disaster," Mr Assad said after meeting French President Nicolas Sarkozy in the Syrian capital.
Mr Sarkozy, who began a visit to Syria today, had asked Mr Assad to use Syria's ties with Tehran to urge the Islamic Republic to co-operate with major powers over its nuclear programme, which Western countries say could be used to develop nuclear weapons.
His visit will boost Damascus's efforts to rejoin the international fold and put the onus on it to co-operate further on Lebanon.
France has taken the lead in the West to re-engage with Syria after Mr Assad embarked on indirect peace talks with Israel and adopted what was perceived as a more conciliatory stance towards Lebanon.
Mr Sarkozy, who will be meeting Mr Assad shortly, is the first Western head of government to visit Syria since the 2005 assassination of Lebanese statesman Rafik al-Hariri, which French officials believe was orchestrated from Syria.
The assassination triggered international pressure that forced Syria to withdraw its troops from Lebanon after 29 years.
Diplomats say Mr Sarkozy will urge the Syrian president move swiftly to implement a decision to open embassies with Beirut and start border demarcation, instead of leaving these issues to committees with no fixed schedules.
Paris had accused Syria of contributing to the crisis in Lebanon that turned violent in May before a Qatari-brokered deal resulted in the formation of a national unity government in which the Hizbullah led-opposition has veto power.
Syria was seen as helping to reach the deal. Relations between Paris and Damascus have improved since, however, with Mr Assad visiting France in July and pledging to open diplomatic relations with Lebanon.
Reuters