Iran, Lebanon agree to boost ties

Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour have called for further expansion of bilateral between the two nations.

The two officials met late Saturday on the sidelines of the International Conference on the Global Fight against Terrorism, which opened in the Iranian capital of Tehran earlier in the day and also discussed latest regional developments, particularly the challenges facing the new Lebanese cabinet headed by Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

During the meeting, President Ahmadinejad and Mansour concurred that the Israeli regime remains the main threat and a major source of terror and instability in the region.

The Iranian chief executive reiterated that Tehran will do its best to implement agreements signed between the two states in his last state visit to Beirut.

He also instructed his ministers to hold further meetings with their Lebanese counterparts to look into further ways to expand bilateral ties.

Earlier in June, Iran congratulated Lebanon on the formation of its new cabinet, describing it as a manifestation of Lebanese national sovereignty against Israeli aggressions and a significant leap toward the establishment of tranquility and stability in the Middle East.

In late January, Lebanese President Michel Sleiman issued a decree appointing Hezbollah-backed Mikati as Lebanon’s new premier.

Mikati won 68 votes in the 128-seat parliament following two days of discussions between lawmakers and the Lebanese president.