Ali Akbar Velayati made the remarks in a meeting with Lebanese FM Gebran Bassil in the Iranian capital, Tehran.
The Iranian official said that Lebanon has a major role in the region and both the countries have enjoyed old cultural and political ties and added “similar to other regional countries, Lebanon was also under pressure by the Zionist regime and terrorism and the solution to it is mutual regional cooperation.”
“Lebanon’s resistance against the Zionist regime and the Takfiris is honorable for the region and Arab world,” Velayati said.
“Lebanon holds a great position among the Arab countries,” he noted.
Talking about Syria, Velayati added “Iran and Lebanon shares mutual views on Syria and oppose any foreign interference in the country and region. We all know that the resistance of the Syrian nation has been spiritually supported by the people of Lebanon.”
He noted that the resistance path, against the Zionist regime and terrorism, starts from Iran and then goes to Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. "The path is a precious chain which has indeed developed resistance in the region and I should also add that there is no difference between the terrorists who, in the name of Islam, commit crimes, against Muslims and non-Muslims, and the Zionists since both are the enemies of humanity and Islam," Velayati asserted.
He hoped that the Lebanese nation will soon hold a presidential election.
Gebran Bassil, for his part, said that Iran proved itself in international fields by achieving great accomplishments in all arenas.
He added that Iran plays a sensitive role in the region particularly in supporting resistance and hoped that regional cooperation would stop terrorism and the spread of extremist trends in the Middle East.
“Iran made great progresses based on its regional and fixed principles,” he said and added: “we tend to dry the roots of terrorism from the region it is originated. We hold such a power and can prevent its growth.”
Bassil also appreciated Iran for what it is currently doing to fight against terrorism.
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