Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says his country's relations with Iran will not be affected by a probable peace agreement with Israel.

Assad told the head of Lebanon's Journalists Union Melhem Karam that a probable deal with Israel over the Golan Heights will not affect Damascus-Tehran ties.

Tel Aviv has reportedly demanded that Damascus cut its ties with Tehran as a precondition for serious "negotiations" about returning the Golan Heights.

However, President Assad says that Israel's demand is the equivalent of Syria requesting Israel to break its relations with the United States.

Israel occupied the Golan Heights in 1967 and annexed it to its territory in 1981. The United Nations and the international community have refused to recognize the annexation.

Israel and Syria have so far held four rounds of indirect talks over a schedule for Israel's withdrawal from the Golan Heights.

Political experts however believe Israel's withdrawal seems highly unlikely because the Golan Heights is a militarily strategic region which is also regarded a significant water resource for the regime.

Al-Assad himself in an earlier interview with IRIB expressed doubt about whether Tel Aviv is serious in returning the Syrian land.

“The term 'negotiation' is not an exact description. It's rather an effort to set the stage for the initiation of negotiations. We are not sure about Israel's intention in returning the Golan Heights to Syria; therefore, we remain distanced from the negotiations. We can't confirm that Israel is withdrawing from the occupied Golan Heights yet.”

In the interview, Assad also reassured Arab countries that Iran-Syria ties would help restore peace in the Middle East, the Mehr News Agency reported.

AR/SME/DT/IR