FM: Iran has interaction with all Lebanese parties

Tehran, Oct 13, IRNA

Iran has interaction with all Lebanese parties, Foreign Minister
Manouchehr Mottaki said in a joint press conference with visiting
Leader of the Lebanese Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) Party Michel Aoun
on Monday.

The senior Lebanese official arrived in Tehran on a five-day visit on
Sunday at the head of a delegation to review issues of mutual interest
with senior Iranian officials.

Stressing the need for solving Lebanon's political crisis through
negotiations, Mottaki called on all Lebanese parties to maintain unity
and solidarity.

"Tehran would always support national unity and solidarity as well as
close relations among all Lebanese parties," Mottaki said.

He added that more Lebanese political leaders would be in Iran in the
near future as Tehran has "invited all Lebanese friends to visit" the
country.

Mottaki added that during his visit to New York to attend the 63rd
meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, he had invited
Lebanese President Michel Suleiman to pay a visit to Iran in near
future.

However, reports coming in from Beirut quoted a Lebanese newspaper as
saying on Monday that former Lebanese president Emile Lahoud is
expected to visit Iran soon after Aoun.

During his stay in Iran, Aoun is to meet President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad, and Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani.

Aoun is known as a patriotic politician with sound strategic views.

End