Iran seeks Syrian cooperation against US pressure

"The existence of common threats requires more cooperation between Tehran and Damascus," Iran's official news agency IRNA quoted Ahmadinejad as saying at a joint news conference with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Assad arrived earlier in the day, the first foreign leader to visit the Islamic Republic's new president, a religious conservative who took the oath of office on Saturday following his surprise election victory in June.

"There is no limit for Iran and Syria's cooperation ... Boosting the ties can protect the Middle East region from possible aggressions," Ahmadinejad said.

Both Tehran and Damascus -- allies in the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war -- face US accusations of not making a serious effort to prevent insurgents from crossing into Iraq, charges both deny.

Washington also accuses Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, while Tehran says it wants to develop its nuclear expertise solely to generate electricity.

Ahmadinejad vowed on Saturday that Iran would not be intimidated by Western threats.

John Bolton, in his debut speech as US ambassador to the United Nations, pressed Syria and Iran last week to do more to stem the flow of insurgents, arms and funding into neighbouring Iraq.