Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said on Friday that “Lebanon’s security and maintaining peace in the country” is important for Iran, claiming that this is the purpose of his visit to Lebanon, which he started shortly before midnight Thursday.
Speaking after a meeting with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Abdollahian underlined the need to hold “a meeting for regional leaders to discuss the situation in Gaza.”
The Iranian Minister also held talks with Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib as part of his tour of Lebanese officials, which will also include Speaker Nabih Berri.
During a joint press conference, Bou Habib stressed that “Lebanon has never desired or sought war,” warning that “the continuation of escalation will ignite the region and threaten security and peace.”
“The international community must understand that there will be no stability in the region without a solution to the Palestinian issue,” Bou Habib added.
For his part, the Iranian Foreign Minister lashed out at the United States, saying, “America calls on all parties to exercise restraint and at the same time sends weapons and military support to Israel.”
“I agreed with Minister Bou Habib on the urgent need to stop the war crimes being committed by Israel against civilians in Gaza, and we are prepared to hold an extraordinary meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.”
Abdollahian had earlier met with Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah. Press reports said they reviewed recent events and developments in the region, especially after the Al-Aqsa Flood operation and the continuing Israeli aggression on Gaza.
According to An-Nahar newspaper, the two parties discussed “responsibilities and positions to be taken concerning these historical events and dangerous developments.”
