Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad advised Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal to wait on concluding the prisoner exchange deal with Israel, until it includes the maximum number of Palestinian prisoners to be released, according to Gaza-based news agency Qudsnet.

Qudsnet quoted Iranian media sources close to the government as saying that Mashaal updated Ahmadinejad with the latest developments during their Sunday meeting in Tehran.

The sources further claimed Mashaal told Ahmadinejad the deal will include the release of Syrian prisoners, most likely referring to Druze residents of the Golan Heights.

Mashaal also gave a detailed account of the obstacles and disagreements still standing in the way of concluding a deal, among them the release of the leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine Ahmed Saadat, and senior Fatah member Marwan Barghouti, as well as the question of deportation of the released prisoners.

Qudsnet also reported that the Iranian sources claimed the meeting between the two was serious and dealt with many issues. During the meeting, Ahmadinejad promised to give financial aid to Hamas, however the sum was not clear. Mashaal is slated to meet other Iranian officials during his visit to Tehran.