Syria and Iran seek common ground

The presidents of Syria and Iran are to meet today amid frenetic diplomacy on several fronts, from peace talks to Iraqi politics to the Hariri inquiry in Lebanon.

DAMASCUS // Bashar al Assad, the Syrian president, is due to meet his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmedinejad in Tehran today at a time of frenetic regional diplomacy over renewed Middle East peace talks, a political deadlock in Iraq and a brewing storm in Lebanon.

It will be the second leadership-level meeting between the key allies in as many weeks. Mr Ahmedinejad stopped in for two hours of talks with Mr al Assad at Damascus airport a fortnight ago, en route to the United Nations in New York. There have been a series of diplomatic developments since then, involving the United States, Iraq, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Russia, as well as Syria and Iran.

Two days after the Damascus airport meeting, a year-long feud between Iraq's prime minister, Nouri al Maliki, and Syria came to an abrupt end, prompting speculation that Tehran had stepped in to win Syrian backing for Mr al Maliki's leadership bid. Mr al Maliki, who enjoys close ties with Iran, is trying to retain his post for another term, despite coming second in national elections and facing strong opposition both at home and among regional powers.

His rival for the premiership, Ayad Allawi, head of the Iraqiyya bloc, responded quickly to the rapprochement, coming to Damascus on Wednesday for talks with Mr al Assad. Mr Allawi, who has strong relationships with Iran's opponents, including the US and Saudi Arabia, publicly asked that Syria persuade Tehran to stay out of Iraq's leadership battle. Yesterday's announcement that Muqtada al Sadr, the Iran-based Iraqi cleric, has finally agreed his political bloc will support Mr al Maliki, not Mr Allawi, suggests that plea may already have been overtaken by events.

Announcing today's Tehran meeting, Sana, Syria's state-run news agency, said the Syrian and Iranian leaders would discuss bilateral relations and "the latest developments on the regional and international arenas". It also mentioned Iraq, saying Damascus and Tehran had agreed on the necessity of ending the "crisis" in Baghdad, through forming a government capable of preserving unity, stability and security.

In addition, US efforts to bring Syria into the Middle East peace process seem certain to be on today's agenda. Last week, the US secretary of state Hillary Clinton held a rare meeting with Walid Muallem, the Syrian foreign minister, on the sidelines of the UN general assembly in New York. The US has been pushing for Damascus to enter into talks with Tel Aviv, as part of its renewed drive for a regional peace deal that has seen a resumption, albeit faltering, of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

Syria and Israel, which have been at war for more than 60 years, have not held direct negotiations since the last talks collapsed a decade ago. In his meeting with Mrs Clinton, the Syrian foreign minister expressed an interest in developing the peace process. Mr Ahmedinejad refuses any such accommodation with Israel. The Syrian and Iranian leaders are also likely to discuss Lebanon, a country in which they play a critical role and which Mr Ahmedinejad is soon expected to visit.

Syria, in conjunction with Saudi Arabia, has been working to tamp down a brewing crisis in Lebanon over the expected indictment of Hizbollah members in the murder of the former Lebanese prime minister, Rafik Hariri. Riyadh and Damascus have both made it clear they do not want a renewed conflict between Hizbollah, the militant group heavily backed by Iran and Syria, and its opponents, who are allies of Saudi Arabia.

Iran and Syria have had a strategic alliance for more than three decades, during which time they have not always seen eye-to-eye over Lebanon. However, Syrian commentators expect them to form a common position in the face of current problems. A final element of today's talks may relate to deepening international sanctions against Iran over its controversial nuclear programme. The embargo has led Russia to halt planned weapons sales to Tehran but Moscow recently said it will supply Damascus with cruise missiles.

Just as Iran has helped Syria weather stormy economic waters and cope with limited US sanctions, Damascus, which is part of the Arab free trade area, could now prove to be an economic lifeline for Iran.