Al-Assad visits Tehran today

The Iranian official daily "Tehran" said on Tuesday that President Bashar al-Assad will today pay an official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran which is his first since he assumed power in Syria in July, 2000.

In its Tuesday's issue, the paper added that President al-Assad, who will be accompanied by a large political delegation will meet with the spiritual guidance of the Republic of Iran Ayatullah Ali Khameani and will hold talks with the Iranian President Muhammad Khatami.

News report in Tehran said that President al-Assad's visit to Tehran comes following the visit of the Syrian prime minister Muhammad Mustafa Miro in November 2000 during which he signed several agreements between the two countries in the field of transport, commerce, and oil cooperation.