Syria's Assad dismisses Israeli demand on Iran

By Khaled Yacoub Oweis

DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday dismissed Israeli demands that Syria abandon an alliance with Iran as a requirement for a peace deal.

Assad told British parliamentarians that the Baath Party government intended to maintain "normal relations" with Iran while it conducts indirect talks with Israel to regain the occupied Golan Heights, a source familiar with the meeting told Reuters.

Israeli officials have repeatedly said a peace agreement depends on Syria distancing itself from Iran and severing ties with Lebanon's Hezbollah movement and the Palestinian group Hamas. The two organisations are also supported by Iran.

"The president said Syria has normal relations with Iran. He made it clear that any suggestion to drop them was not a reasonable request," the source said.

"He said if Israel could question Syria's relations with Iran ,then Syria could question Israel's ties with other countries, particularly the United States."

The parliamentarians, including former interior minister Charles Clarke, are on a trip to hear Syria's take on the Middle East at first hand.

Syria and Israel said last week they were having indirect talks mediated by Turkey, the first confirmation of any talks since 2000.

A week after the announcement, Syrian Defence Minister Hassan Turkmani visited Tehran to discuss closer military cooperation, Syrian government newspapers said.