Iran to Palestinians: We are prepared for war

Monsters & Critics (Link) (December 4, 2009)

Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili met with radical Palestinian factions in Damascus and told them his country was prepared for any military strike against it, an official said.

Speaking with the German Press Agency dpa on condition of anonymity, the Palestinian official said Jalili met with members of the Islamic Jihad, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command and Khaled Meshal, political chief of Hamas.

The visiting Iranian official, who met the factions at the embassy in Damascus, said his government continued to support the 'resistance,' or the armed battle against Israel, and was determined to push ahead with its nuclear ambitions.

Tehran insists its nuclear programme is peaceful, but Western officials remain concerned.

Jalili was also said to have met with Hussein Haj Hassan, a deputy secretary-general of the Lebanese group Hezbollah.

Earlier Thursday, the Iranian envoy had a meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Asad.