TEHRAN, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Monday called for further defense cooperation between Iran and Syria, the official IRNA news agency reported.

    In a meeting with visiting Syrian Defense Minister Hassan Turkmani, Ahmadinejad highlighted the importance of Iran-Syria defense ties, saying that defense cooperation has benefited the two nations and should be further developed.

    Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar on Sunday described Syria as a strategic ally.

    However, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on Thursday warned that Syria needs to "distance itself completely" from "problematic ties" with Iran in order to reach a lull with Israel.

    Syria and Israel have just begun the dialogue of creating a comprehensive peace and ending the Golan Heights dispute.