A Syrian known to be close to the regime and a bearer of messages between Damascus and Jerusalem told interviewers on Tuesday that Syria would not sever ties with Iran as part of a peace deal with Israel. Dr. Samir Taqi spoke on Al Manar, Hizbullah’s satellite television channel. Taqi said, "It would be naive to think Syria will neglect or abandon its strategic alliances that do not stem from the Arab-Israeli conflict." Taqi is also known to believe that it would take considerable influence from the United States in order to secure a deal between Israel and Syria.