Lebanon lauds Iran's support, welcomes expansion of ties

Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib has praised the Islamic Republic’s support for his country in a meeting with Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Beirut.

According to Press TV, speaking in a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart who arrived in Beirut early on Friday, Bou Habib said Lebanon welcomes the expansion of bilateral ties with Iran.

The two ministers held a meeting, discussing bilateral ties, as well as regional and international developments. 

Iran to remain Lebanon’s ‘friend of tough times’

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has been and will remain Lebanon’s friend in hard times,” Amir-Abdollahian told the joint press conference.

Pointing to the energy and fuel crisis in Lebanon, Amir-Abdollahian said a Lebanese delegation visited Iran to discuss ways to meet the country’s demand. “We are ready for any sort of help.”

He also pointed to an economic agreement clinched with the Lebanese side during his last visit to the country in October 2021, adding he was “happy” that the agreement had moved forward.

Equipped with high technology, Iran is ready to construct and renovate power plants in Lebanon, the minister added.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran will continue supporting the Islamic resistance in Lebanon and Palestine,” he said, noting, “We consider Lebanon’s security as Iran’s and region’s security.”

Asked about the ongoing political deadlock in Lebanon amid the Parliament’s failure to elect a new president, Amir-Abdollahian said this is an internal affair of the country. “Iran does not interfere in the internal affairs of Lebanon and we believe that Lebanese political trends have enough experience for choosing a new president,” he said.

Earlier in the day, he invited all Lebanese political blocs to engage in dialogue and reach a consensus in order to break the political deadlock in electing a new president.

Iran, Saudi Arabia agree on continuation of talks

The Iranian minister also said that several rounds of negotiations have been held between Iran and Saudi Arabia in the past months in Baghdad for mending strained ties.  

He said he had a short meeting with Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Faisal bin Farhan on the sidelines of Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership in Jordan last month.

“We had consensus on the continuation of talks with the aim of returning Tehran-Riyadh ties to normal,” he said.

Iran has never been the country that took the first step in severing ties with Muslim states, Amir-Abdollahian added.

“We welcome the revival of diplomatic ties between the two countries and the re-opening of our embassies,” said the top diplomat.

'Astana peace process should be strengthened'

Elsewhere, the Iranian minister welcomed recent talks between Turkey and Syria. 

"We are happy with the dialogue taking place between Syria and Turkey, and we believe that the Astana format should be strengthened to solve the existing problems by allowing Syria to participate."

ME