Lebanese Minister: Anti-Iran Sanctions Not to Affect Tehran-Beirut Ties

Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour said that pressures and embargos against Iranian economy will only harm the western countries and Tehran and Beirut will maintain their ties irrespective of sanctions.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Mansour said westerners are the main losers of the decision they made against Iran and the sanctions will not affect Iran-Lebanon trade exchange as it now stands at over 100 million dollars.

As regards Iran’s nuclear program, the Lebanese foreign minister underlined unconditional talks as a means to settle Iran’s nuclear issue.

Lebanon is not against Iran’s progress in the field of nuclear technology and backs it, the minister underscored.

Mansour said the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly announced that Iran has always respected all international treaties and acted under IAEA inspectors.

Iran and Lebanon enjoy cordial relations and have further expanded these ties in recent years.

The two sides have exchanged several delegations of high-ranking officials in the last two years.

Iranian and Lebanese officials have recently doubled efforts to further expand the bilateral relations and mutual cooperation between the two nations.

The two countries signed a cluster of economic agreements during Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s landmark visit to Beirut in October 2010.