Larijani mocks US bid to isolate Iran

Source: Al-Manar, 7-1-2008
Iran's former nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Sunday dismissed US efforts to break his country's alliance with Syria as "dreams." Attempts by the United States to break up the strong ties between Damascus and Tehran "are dreams and illusions," Larijani told reporters in the Syrian capital ahead of a visit to the region by US President George W. Bush.
He said that US threats against Iran lack fundamental basis and the Americans have only portrayed an image of trouble-maker for themselves. Those who believe in US unilateralism should go through their records to judge their deeds in Iraq and Lebanon, he pointed out.
Larijani made his remarks after talks in Damascus with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Vice President Faruq al-Shara. Assad and Larijani discussed "the constructive cooperation which is constantly growing" between their two countries, as well as "the need to guarantee security and stability" in the region, the official SANA news agency reported.
"Syria and Iran are bound by solid ties of friendship and must consult one another permanently on sensitive regional issues," Larijani told reporters, adding that the two allies have similar views on Iraq and Lebanon. Larijani also expressed hope that Arab League chief Amr Mussa will be able to convince feuding Lebanese politicians to adopt an Arab League plan calling for the election of army chief General Michel Sleiman to the presidency.
On Wednesday, Bush begins an eight-day tour of Palestinian occupied lands and five Arab states. Earlier in Tehran, the Iranian foreign ministry spokesman, Mohammad Ali Hosseini, slammed the visit saying it was aimed at interfering in relations between regional states.