Iran optimistic about end of presidential deadlock in Lebanon

A senior Iranian official has expressed optimism that the Lebanese would be able to elect a president for the Arab country which has been without a head of state for a year now.

Ali Akbar Velayati, an adviser to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, made the remarks in a meeting with the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Sigrid Kaag, in Tehran on Monday.

He praised Lebanon’s standing in the region, saying the country has a special and instrumental position in the Arab world.

Velayati, who presides over the Center for Strategic Research of Iran’s Expediency Council, also praised Tehran-Beirut ties as good and said Iran and Lebanon have had very favorable relations in the region and will keep up their ties.

Lebanon has been without a leader since May 2014, when former President Michel Sleiman left office at the end of his tenure.

Lebanese lawmakers have so far failed to elect a successor to Sleiman in their 24 attempts.

On June 3, Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri postponed a presidential election vote to June 24 due to lack of quorum.

The power vacuum in Lebanon comes as the Arab country is battling Takfiri and terrorist groups coming from Syria.

The UN official, for her part, praised Iran’s stance on Syria.

She also described the situation in Lebanon as complicated and hoped that Iran’s support could ameliorate the situation in the Arab country.