TEHRAN - In a meeting with Syrian Ambassador to Iran Turki Saghar, Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Shahroudi said, "In spite of the fact that Palestine is the focal point and the front line of the struggle, this is the departure point of a greater conflict between the Zionist regime's masters, in particular the U.S., and the Islamic world.

"The aim of the current slogans which were originally stated by George W. Bush is to revive the Crusades." Reiterating the necessity of coordination and unity among Islamic countries in their struggle against enemies, he said, "The regional situation is worrying, but the Syrian officials' stance is very good and they support the stances of resistance because these stances will result in Islam's victory." Ayatollah Shahroudi expressed his condolences to the Syrian government and the victims' families on the tragedy of the dam burst in that country.

The Syrian ambassador said, "The Leader of the Islamic Revolution greatly encourages us and raises our hopes in our struggle against the Zionist regime. We attach great importance to our relations with Iran, which has a special place in our foreign policy.

"Syria is being heavily pressured to coordinate itself with the U.S. stances and one of the Zionist officials made it known that it had a plan to attack Syria two months ago.

He emphasized that the Syrian officials are courageously standing against these threats and Syria's only concern is the Arab countries which are going toward U.S. hastily.