Naharnet

Rahimi Hands Suleiman Letter from Ahmadinejad, Stresses Iran’s Complete Support for Lebanon

Iranian Vice President Mohammed Reza Rahimi voiced on Thursday his country’s readiness to establish cooperation agreements between the Islamic republic and Lebanon.

He said after holding talks with President Michel Suleiman: “Iran is completely committed to supporting Lebanon.”

He also delivered a handwritten letter from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Suleiman.

The talks also tackled the meetings of the higher joint Lebanese-Iranian committee.

For his part, Suleiman highlighted the good ties between Lebanon and Iran, hailing the current cooperation between the two sides.

The Iranian official later held talks with Prime Minister Najib Miqati and later Speaker Nabih Berri who threw a luncheon banquet in his honor, which was attended by the premier.

The prime minister asserted to the Rahimi that Iran’s support has allowed Lebanon to avoid the repercussions of the various developments in the region, especially those taking place in Syria.

He said that the talks focused on the situation in the Middle East “in light of Israel’s ongoing hostile policies against the Palestinian people.”

In addition, he stated that it was only a coincidence that Rahimi’s trip to Lebanon coincided with that of U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman.

Miqati denied that he received “orders” from the various officials, stressing: “Lebanon’s higher interest demands that it enjoy good and excellent ties with all sides.”

For his part, Rahimi told reporters after the meeting that the talks also addressed all agreements signed between Iran and Lebanon during Ahmadinejad’s visit to Lebanon last year and during former Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s trip to the Islamic republic in 2010.

Moreover, he stated that Iran is open to leasing Lebanon power to solve its electricity crisis.

“We are keen on seeing the lights that were turned off by the hands of hate by Lebanon’s enemies be lit again,” he remarked.


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