The United States has reportedly told the Assad regime it will remove its forces from Syria if Iran removes its forces from the country's south, where it borders Israel and Jordan, Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported on Tuesday.
The report first appeared in the Beirut-based Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Akhbar daily newspaper.
The Americans, according to Al-Akhbar, also asked that American energy companies be allowed to pursue oil interests in eastern Syria, and asked the Assad regime for intelligence information on terror suspects who could act in Western countries.
The Syrian regime rejected the American proposal, Al-Akhbar reported.
In July, a delegation of American intelligence officers secretly visited Damascus, the report said. The delegation is said to have met with Ali Mamlouk, head of the country's national security bureau.
Mamlouk allegedly told the Americans that their presence in the country equated to "occupation," and that if they entered the country uninvited they should leave it in the same fashion.
According to Al-Akhbar, Mamlouk also rejected the request to remove Iranian forces from southern Syria.
"The American proposal won't change our position toward our allies," Mamlouk reportedly said, referring to Iran.
As for American energy interests, Mamlouk said companies from countries that fought against Syria wouldn't receive any benefits; but that the matter could be revisited once Syria's rehabilitation was underway. He also rejected the request to share intelligence information, citing the current state of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
