Assad and Shamkhani, who arrived in Damascus on Wednesday, "particularly looked at developments in Iraq and in the Palestinian territories, as well as relations between the two friendly countries," SANA said.

Syria and Iran, close regional allies, are both the targets of pressure and sanctions by the United States which accuses them of supporting "terrorist" groups.

Shamkhani is due to leave on Friday for Lebanon, whose Hezbollah guerrilla movement is backed by both Syria and Iran, an Iranian diplomatic source said.

WAR.WIRE