TOP IRANIAN NULCEAR OFFICIAL SET TO VISIT SYRIA

Damascus, 17 Jan. (AKI) - Iran's national security council president, Ali Larijani, who is also the Islamic Repbublic's top nuclear negotiatior, will visit Syria in the coming days, sources in the capital Damascus said Wednesday. Larijani is expected to deliver a letter from Iranian president Mahomoud Ahmadinejad to Syrian president Bahsar al-Assad.

Teheran and Damascus have recently intensified their relations in the face of growing criticism from the United States in relation to their support for Hezbollah in Lebanon, their role in conflict in Iraq and Iran's nuclear ambitions which Washington opposes.

Larijani's visit is likely to anger those Arab leaders in the region such as in Saudi Arabia and Egypt who are trying to isolate non-Arab Iran in an effort to curb what is seen as its growing influence.