SAYEDA ZEINAB, Syria, June 24 (UPI) -- Concern is growing in Washington as Syria and Iran develop a closer relationship, The New York Times reported.
The United States has been trying to isolate Syria and contain Iraq, the newspaper said, but the governments in Damascus and Tehran have been growing closer as power in the region shifts from Sunni Muslims to Iranian-led Shiites.
The tightening of relations is partially due to the installation by America of a Shiite-dominated government in Iraq following the fall of Saddam Hussein, the Times said.
There is a growing expectation in Arab nations that the Bush administration may soon be in talks with Tehran over Iraq and nuclear weapons.
Iran and Syria began tightening their relations decades ago, but the Times reported that only recently have real strides been made.
Syria has signed military and economic agreements with Iran concerning telecommunications projects and higher education, among other initiatives. Also, Syria plans to buy missiles from Iran, and Iran is slated to build cement and car plants in Syria.
