President Mohammed Khatami of Iran is reported to have backed Greek concerns over the co-operation between Israel and Turkey.

Mr Khatami was quoted by Iranian television as having told the visiting Greek development minister, Vaso Papandreou, that Athens concerns are justified.

Mr Khatami added that Iran felt insecure about what he described as the expansionist and aggressive policies of Israel.

The television report said that Greece and Iran had signed a memorandum of understanding.