Lebanese president to attend Rohani swearing-in ceremony

Lebanese President Michel Sleiman is due to visit Iran to take part in the upcoming inauguration ceremony of Iranian President-elect Hassan Rohani.

According to a report published by Beirut-based Arabic language daily As-Safir on Wednesday, Sleiman will travel to Tehran to participate in the ceremony scheduled for August 4, one day after Rohani’s endorsement by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

The Lebanese president will head a delegation which will include Deputy Prime Minister Samir Mokbel and Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour.

Sleiman plans to hold a meeting with Ayatollah Khamenei, and a number of heads of delegations that will be participating in Rohani’s swearing-in ceremony.

Rohani has stressed the need for the further expansion of bilateral ties between Iran and Lebanon, noting that diplomatic relations and cooperation between Tehran and Beirut would flourish in diverse areas during the next Iranian administration.

On July 18, Sleiman stated that the region has entered a new stage following Rohani’s presidential election win. He expressed hope that the new opportunity will open fresh avenues for the realization of the interests of the regional nations.

Rohani won over half of the votes in Iran’s June 14 election, which was marked by a 72.7 percent turnout, to secure an outright victory.