Lebanon on Wednesday voiced its hope to see the solution of the Iranian nuclear issue through dialogue, rather than sanctions, Xinhua reported.
The statement came as the Lebanese UN Ambassador, Nawaf Salam, was taking the floor at an open meeting of the UN Security Council. Lebanon is one of the 10 non-permanent members of the 15-nation UN body.
"We believe the solution should come through dialogue, not through sanctions," he said. "This is Lebanon's position."
"We believe the sanctions resolution is a painful failure of diplomatic efforts," he said. "We call on all states ... to intensify diplomatic efforts."
"Our Arab populations dream of the day dawning when the Middle East can enjoy the status of nuclear free zone, as is the case of other regions and other people of the world," he said.
Earlier on Wednesday, the UN Security Council adopted the new resolution on Iran with 12 votes in favor. Brazil and Turkey, the two non-permanent members of the Security Council, voted against the draft resolution while Lebanon, another non-permanent Council member, abstained.
In his statement, the Lebanese ambassador also opposed the double standard in the field of international non-proliferation.
"Israel is the only country in our region that holds nuclear weapons and Israel should adhere to the non-proliferation treaty as a non-nuclear state. It should subject its nuclear facilities to the inspection of the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), " he said. "The issue of nuclear non-proliferation should not be selective it should be universal."
Lebanon believes that the Tehran Declaration "is a good solution the Iranian nuclear issue" it is an "important initiative, " he said. "The elements of this agreement are still a gateway for confidence building measures to be adopted."