Assad receives letter from Ahmadinejad

Syrian President Bashar Assad received a letter on Saturday from his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad concerning the latest developments in Lebanon and the region, Syria's official news agency reported. Iran's deputy foreign minister, Mahammad Rida Baqeri, was visiting Syria and delivered the letter, SANA reported. Its contents were not disclosed. Baqeri also held talks with Syrian Vice President Farouk al-Sharaa about the "repercussions of the latest Israeli aggression in Lebanon," SANA said. "The [two politicians'] views were identical over the importance of maintaining coordination and consultation between Syria and Iran to bring about stability in the region," it reported.