TEHRAN, SEPT 5, SPA -- IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MANOUCHEHR MOTTAKI SAID AT HIS MEETING HERE TODAY WITH SYRIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER FAROUQ TAHA THAT CONSULTATIONS BETWEEN SYRIA AND IRAN HAVE ABORTED A PART OF THE PLOTS HATCHED BY THE US AND ISRAEL. IN A STATEMENT PUBLISHED HERE TODAY, MOTTAKI SAID THE US PRESSURES HAVE STRENGTHENED THE DETERMINATION OF THE NATIONS TO DEFEND THEIR SOVEREIGNTY AND INDEPENDENCE. ON THE IRANIAN NUCLEAR ISSUE, HE HOPED THAT IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO REACH A SETTLEMENT IN THIS RESPECT THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS. ON HIS PART FAROUQ TAHA SAID THE AMERICANS AND ISRAELIS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DISTRACT ATTENTION FROM THE DEFEAT INFLICTED ON THEM BY THE RESISTANCE. FAROUQ TAHA IS CURRENTLY VISITING IRAN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE THIRD MEETING OF THE IRANIAN-SYRIAN CONSULAR COMMITTEE.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/387243