Via MEMRI:
Against the backdrop of President Bush’s Middle East visit and of the recent visit to Syria by Ali Larijani, representative of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, high-ranking Syrian government officials called on Arab countries to deepen relations and cooperation with Iran. Such calls have been voiced by Syrian Information Minister Muhsin Bilal and Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Faisal al-Miqdad. In addition, a column published in the Syrian government daily Al-Thawra advised Arab states that Iran’s becoming a regional power was in their interests.