Iran, Lebanon urge stronger ties

Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has met with his Lebanese counterpart Adnan Mansour in the Iranian capital, Tehran, calling for the enhancement of Tehran-Beirut ties.

During the meeting, Salehi pointed to agreements signed between the two countries and called for attempts to further deepen Iran-Lebanon cooperation in the fields of energy, economy, tourism, etc., by implementing the agreements.

“Lebanon has a special position among the Iranian people and government in political terms, and I am certain that we will witness the deepening and expansion of relations between the two countries,” the Iranian minister said.

Salehi also pointed to important ongoing regional developments, and stressed the importance of negotiations between Iran and Lebanon in this regard.

Mansour, for his part, said that his country always seeks to expand relations with the Islamic Republic.

We will never forget that during the past thirty years, Iran has always been by Lebanon’s side at the most difficult times, the senior Lebanese official said.

The Iranian and Lebanese foreign ministers met on the sidelines of the second day of the International Conference on the Global Fight against Terrorism in Tehran.

The conference was held on June 25 and 26 in the Iranian capital, bringing together senior officials from at least 60 countries as well as representatives from several international organizations including the United Nations.

Iran’s foreign minister also held separate meetings with a number of other officials from different states on the sidelines of Tehran’s anti-terror summit on Sunday.

Salehi met with Oman’s Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, calling for the necessary infrastructures to expand economical and trade relations as well as the cooperation of private sectors of the two countries.

Yusuf bin Alawi, for his part, expressed his country’s readiness to enhance cooperation between Iran and Oman’s private sectors in different fields of energy, Petrochemicals, and railway transportation.

Salehi also held a meeting with Mauritania’s Prime Minister Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf on the same day.

Iran is a country with a special position and an admirable history in the world of Islam, the Mauritanian premier said in his meeting with Salehi.

Laghdaf also called for Iran’s cooperation in the fields of agriculture, fisheries, resources, mines and transportation.

Laghdaf and Salehi also discussed the establishment of a joint economic committee in order to plan cooperation between Iran and Mauritania in various fields.

The latest developments in Africa were other issues discussed by Laghdaf and Salehi.

Former Malian President Alpha Oumar Kunare was another foreign official who met with Iran’s foreign minister on Sunday.

During the meeting, Salehi described Iran’s outlook on Africa as “strategic” and “based on cooperation.”

The former Malian president and ex-chairman of the African Union hailed “Iran’s historical role in the world” and the Islamic Republic’s “constructive role in Africa.”

In a separate meeting with Benin’s Minister of Interior and Public Security Benoit Assounan Degla, Salehi expressed the readiness of the Islamic Republic to deepen relations with Benin.

The Beninese minister, for his part, pointed to Iran’s capabilities and experience, and said his country is willing to enhance relations with Iran in different fields including education, hygiene, and agriculture.

Head of the National Anti-Terrorism Agency of Indonesia Ansyaad Mbai also met with Iran’s foreign minister, and submitted to Salehi, the Indonesian president’s message to Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Salehi also met with St. Vincent’s Minister of Transport Julian Francis, and Conakry Guinea’s deputy foreign minister on Sunday.