Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Naji Ottri on Wednesday reiterated Damascus' support for Iran's right to peaceful nuclear technology, the official SANA news agency reported.

Ottri made the remarks while addressing the opening ceremony of the three-day session of the Syrian-Iranian Higher Joint Committee, co-chaired by visiting Iranian First Vice-President Parviz Davoudi.

"Syria refuses campaigns directed against Iran by some leverage forces that ignore the nuclear arsenal of Israel which constitutes a genuine danger and a potent threat for regional security," Ottri said.

The U.S. has accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, but Tehran insists that its nuclear program was aimed at generating electricity.

Davoudi hoped that his visit would push bilateral relations forward.

"We should pursue practical steps to establish our joint projects which serve our mutual interest," said Davoudi on arrival in Damascus earlier Wednesday.

Officials on both sides will discuss means to enhance economic cooperation and trade.

The last session of the Higher Joint Committee was held in February 2005 in Tehran.

Iran and Syria have maintained close ties since the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war, during which Syria sided with Tehran against Iraq under the former Saddam Hussein's regime.

The two neighboring countries are both under economic sanctions imposed by Washington for allegedly sponsoring terrorism.

Last month, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad paid an official visit to Syria and met with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad.

Source: Xinhua