U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly said Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit to Lebanon would not contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the region, local newspaper An Nahar reported Wednesday.
"There is a concern we share with the countries in the region that Iran is not playing a helpful role in the region in terms of stability," Connelly was quoted as saying.
Ahmadinejad, who is on his first visit to Lebanon since he took office, was heavily criticized the United States and Israel, who said last week that his visit undermined Lebanon's sovereignty. Lebanon's factions from the Western-backed March 14 Alliance described the visit as provocative.
Connelly also stressed Washington's continued support for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which is dedicated to investigation of former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri's assassination in 2005. She denied her country's involvement in any stage of the decision to postpone the indictment.
Ahmadinejad was warmly welcomed by the Lebanese people at the airport, most of whom are supporters of Shiite armed group Hezbollah, a group blacklisted by the U.S. government as terrorist organization.
The Iranian president will deliver a speech on Wednesday night in Beirut's southern suburb Dahiyeh, a Hezbollah's stronghold. He will also visit villages in southern Lebanon close to the border with arch-foe Israel.