TEHRAN, Iran – Syrian President Bashar Assad offered dim hopes Saturday for any success in Mideast peace talks, saying the White House is only using its mediation between Israelis and Palestinians to score political points in the United States.

The comments by Assad followed talks with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is one of Israel’s arch-foes. Both leaders pledged to support “resistance” in the region, an apparent reference to Palestinian militants and others opposing Israel.

Iran and Syria are key sponsors of the Shiite militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Palestinian faction Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip and is not part of the peace talks.

Assad said the current attempt at dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians has brought “no change” and claimed that President Obama only seeks a political boost.

“The talks are only aimed at supporting Obama’s position inside the U.S,” Assad said.