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Lebanese PM thanks Iran for positive role in Lebanon

Arab World Materials 6 December 2011 06:29 (UTC +04:00)
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mighati thanked Iran's positive role in promoting unity and stability of Lebanon on Monday.
Lebanese PM thanks Iran for positive role in Lebanon

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mighati thanked Iran's positive role in promoting unity and stability of Lebanon on Monday, IRNA reported.

He made the remarks in his meeting with Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Ghazanfar Roknabadi.

Mighati also emphasized need for further development of relations between Tehran and Beirut.

Beirut is ready to execute all bilateral agreements between Iran and Lebanon,' he said.'

The Lebanese Prime Minister declared his support for holding the first meeting of joint committees of the two countries in 2012.

The Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon conferred in the meeting on the latest regional and international developments with the Lebanese prime minister.

Iran supports Lebanon's unity and stability,' Roknabadi stated.'

Roknabadi submitted the message of the Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi to Mighati.

Rahimi has in this message, stressed the need for further development of bilateral relations, regional stability and continuation of Islamic resistance.

Roknabadi and Mighati alos declared their support for Syrian people's demand for reform under the leadership of President Bashar Assad.

Since the Islamic Revolution, Iran and Lebanon have deepened relations.

After all parties of the Lebanese government reached a consensus as part of the Doha Agreement, the Iranian foreign minister at the time, Manouchehr Mottaki traveled to Lebanon and welcomed the agreement as a 'great achievement' for the Lebanese people.

During the 2006 Lebanon War between Israel and Hezbollah, Iran came out in firm support of Lebanon.

Following the Lebanese President Michel Suleiman's visit to Tehran in 2008 and the signing of a military and economic agreement between the two countries, formal military ties were created.

After President Suleiman asked Iran to consider selling advanced military equipment to the Lebanese Army, Iran announced its defense industry has the capacity to supply arms to more than 50 countries.

Hezbollah supported the President's call. The next day, Iran's Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi expressed readiness to offer military aid to Lebanon. 'Lebanon is a friend and its army is our friend. We are prepared to help them.' Iran's Ambassador to Lebanon Roknabadi, affirmed Iran's willingness to aid Lebanon as requested by President Sleiman and Defense Minister Elias Murr.

As of 2011, the Lebanese government is dominated by Hezbollah and its allied bloc. In recent years, the governments of Iran and Lebanon have taken additional steps to enhance economic and diplomatic cooperation. Since assuming office in 2008, Lebanese President Michel Suleiman has been notably active in encouraging bilateral ties, personally meeting with several high-ranking Iranian officials, including the president. In 2011, Suleiman appointed Hezbollah-supported Najib Mikati as Lebanon's prime minister.

Lebanon has been supportive of Iran's nuclear program, stressing that it views Iran's program as peaceful. The Lebanese government has urged a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing conflict between the Islamic Republic and the international community over Iran's peaceful nuclear efforts. In 2010, Lebanon abstained from voting on a UN Security Council Resolution calling for additional sanctions on Iran.

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