Lebanon hails Iran nuclear declaration

Lebanon has welcomed Iran’s nuclear declaration and reaffirmed Beirut’s support for a diplomatic solution to the standoff over Iran’s nuclear program.

“Lebanon has always called for a diplomatic solution to Iran’s nuclear program,” Lebanese President Michel Suleiman said in a statement issued by his press office on Tuesday.

Iran, Brazil and Turkey issued a nuclear declaration that names Turkey as the site of a nuclear fuel swap in which Tehran exchanges its low-enriched uranium for reactor fuel.

The US and its European allies accuse Iran of pursuing a military nuclear program – a charge Tehran has categorically rejected. Iran argues that as a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and a signatory to (NPT) it has the right to a civilian nuclear program.

Suleiman expressed hope that the Iranian agreement “would ease regional and international tension,” calling on the international community to approve the declaration.

Just one day after the declaration, the US announced that following an agreement with all veto-wielding permanent members of the UN Security Council, it was preparing to circulate a “strong draft” for the imposition of tougher sanctions against Iran among UNSC member states.