Iran, Syria announce threat alliance

UPI | February 16 2005

DAMASCUS, Syria -- Facing increasing hostility from the United States, Iran and Syria announced Wednesday they were forming an allied front, the BBC reported.

"We are ready to help Syria on all grounds to confront threats," Iranian Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said after meeting Syrian Prime Minister Naji al-Otari.

The announcement came as former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was buried in Beirut following a suicide bomb attack. While the United States has not directly accused Syria of the attack, it did recall its ambassador from Damascus.

The Bush administration has also been pressuring Iran over its nuclear capabilities and intentions.