Iran’s Salehi to discuss Lebanon in Syria

Caretaker Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has left Tehran for Damascus where he is expected to discuss regional developments, including the recent developments in Lebanon.

The top Iranian diplomat is to discuss a wide range of topics with Syrian authorities including the expansion of ties and regional and international developments, a Foreign Ministry statement said on Sunday.

According to the statement, the recent developments in Lebanon will be the focus of the talks.

Lebanon’s unity government collapsed in early January after 11 ministers led by Hezbollah and its allies resigned over tensions stemming from a US-backed probe into the assassination of former premier Rafiq Hariri.

Hezbollah made the decision after its demands for an urgent cabinet session to discuss the crisis over the Hariri tribunal was rejected.

Hezbollah Secretary General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah and the main Druze leader from Lebanon’s opposition camp Walid Jumblatt met and discussed forming a coalition to elect the country’s next prime minister.

Jumblatt’s support for Hezbollah could indicate that the Resistance Movement is less than three seats short of a simple majority required for electing a premier in Lebanon’s 128-seat parliament.

Iran and Syria enjoy strategic political, economic and cultural relations and also closely cooperate on regional matters.

Earlier in January, in a meeting with visiting Syrian Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Abrash, Salehi expressed Iran’s willingness to boost ties with Syria.

Iran-Syria trade currently stands at USD 3 billion and is expected to touch USD 5 billion in the near future.