Newly elected Iranian president Hassan Rouhani has met with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants of Lebanon, Adnan Mansour, in a first encounter with an Arab and foreign official since his election, ISNA reported.
In a recently held Iranian presidential elections, Rouhani secured 50.7 percent of votes, thus winning the elections. Iran's current president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad did not participate in the elections due to country's constitutional laws.
Rouhani expressed hopes for the Lebanese government's success in strengthening internal unity between the Lebanese, and in boosting Lebanese-Iranian bilateral ties.
"Lebanon is a friend and brother nation, and we shall always stand besides it and its resistance against attackers," said Rouhani.
With regards to the Syrian crisis, Rouhani urged all to exert efforts for reaching an agreement to cease-fire and halt all foreign interferences, leaving Syrian officials to decide on what they want.
Mansour, in turn, briefed Rouhani on threats against Lebanon in the wake of continued war in Syria and sending of arms and militants, with the support of several countries.
"Democracy does not come from sending weapons to Syria," Mansour noted, expressing Lebanon's worry towards escalating violence and the increasing number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
It should be noted that following his meeting with Lebanese Minister, Hassan Rouhani contacted Lebanon President Michel Sleiman, in his first call to a head of state after his election.