Islamic Iran ready to equip Lebanese Army

The Iranian ambassador to Lebanon says Tehran is ready to help equip the Lebanese Army and expand bilateral defense cooperation without setting any preconditions.

Speaking in a meeting with Lebanon’s Defense Minister Fayez Ghusn in Beirut on Monday, Ghazanfar Roknabadi added that developing stronger defense cooperation was necessary given the daily violations of Lebanese airspace by the Israeli fighter jets.

Ghusn, for his part, praised Iran’s support for Lebanon and its defense of the rights of the Arab and Muslim world and said Lebanon is proud of having Iran’s support.

The Lebanese minister also expressed readiness to travel to Iran in the near future.

Lebanon’s President Michel Suleiman recently announced the country was awaiting Iran’s official response to Beirut’s request for the expansion of bilateral defense cooperation.

This comes as Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi had said on February 5, 2011 that Tehran was ready to start defense cooperation with Beirut upon the Lebanese side’s request.

“Whenever the Lebanese side is ready to start this cooperation it will submit its request,” IRNA quoted him as saying.