Assad in Iran for diplomatic talks

TEHRAN, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- Syrian President Bashar Assad arrived in Iran Saturday to conduct diplomatic talks with Iranian officials, a Syrian official says.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem said one topic to be discussed by the two countries is Iran's nuclear program, the Alalam News Network reported.

"Syria and Iran would continue the exchange of ideas in the framework that would not impair Iran's right of peaceful use of nuclear energy provided by the Non-Proliferation Treaty," Muallem said prior to a visit by Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki last month.

Assad said during a visit to France this year that Iran was not attempting to develop atomic weapons. The Syrian official added that French President Nicolas Sarkozy had asked him to act as a mediator in the growing Iranian nuclear controversy.

The news network said Assad's visit to Iran comes less than a week after Muallem visited the same country to meet with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.