"Iran has the right to build up nuclear technology for peaceful purposes," Assad said after the two leaders held talks.

"We expressed our support for Iran in its pursuit of peaceful nuclear technology and we back the idea of a dialogue with international parties," said the Syrian leader.

"We also reject the pressure being exerted on this country" over its nuclear programme, he said.

Ahmadinejad's trip to Damascus comes ahead of an emergency meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation board on February 2, called by European nuclear negotiators aiming to refer Iran to the UN Security Council.

Iran said this month it was halting a voluntary moratorium on sensitive uranium enrichment research -- a step short of a process that could be extended to make the core of a nuclear weapon.

The move has prompted alarm around the world and driven oil prices higher.

The Islamic republic insists it only wants to make reactor fuel to generate electricity, and asserts it has the right to do so under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

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