US Should Not Interfere In Iran-Lebanon Ties: Envoy

Tehran, March 10, IRNA – No country has the right to meddle in other countries' foreign policy and US should not interfere in Iran-Lebanon relations, Iran's Ambassador to Lebanon Ghazanfar Roknabadi said on Friday. Speaking to the Lebanese reporters, the official added that Iran and Lebanon relations are historical and the two countries have a joint culture. Answering a question about the US Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly's remarks about Lebanese Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn's visit of Tehran, Roknabadi stressed that the expansion of relations between Beirut and Tehran is a matter of the two countries' concern, noting that the US ambassador's remarks is a clear example of Washington's unwelcome interference in Tehran-Lebanon's intimate internal affairs. 'The US officials' remark is in line with Washington's strategy of safeguarding the Zionist regime's security; while protecting the unity among the various political groups in Lebanon against the interests of the occupying force of Israel is part of Iran's strategy toward Lebanon. The US ambassador to Lebanon on Thursday met with Marada Movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh at his residence in Bnachii, raising concerns regarding Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn’s “recent trip to Iran and his statements from Tehran,” the US Embassy in Beirut said in a statement. Ghosn’s statements “suggest the Minister’s discussions could potentially lead to violations by Lebanon of United Nations' Security Council Resolutions 1747 and 1929,” the embassy quoted Connelly as saying. “She further reiterated the United States’ view that Lebanon must respect all of its international obligations,” the embassy quoted her. Ghosn stressed Sunday that “Lebanon’s people, army and resistance are an invincible fortress in the face of Israel,” noting that the Lebanese people 'will never forget that Iran stood by them in the midst of great difficulties,' during his talks with the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Tehran. Ghosn also said that the Zionist regime would fear Iran's reaction, should it consider moving in a hostile way against any regional country. For his part, President Ahmadinejad told the minister that Lebanon and Iran should work toward unity to confront the west and the Zionist regime. The Iranian leader asked Mr. Ghosn to 'resist the plots' of 'domination-seeking powers,'. 'Friendships and brotherhood should be improved,' Ahmadinejad said. He warned that Israel would carry 'a massacre against all nations of the region' if it could. 'Therefore, we should support and stand by each other more than before,' he added. Earlier on Sunday, Ghosn had met with Iran's Defense Minister General Ahmad Vahidi. 'Strengthening the Lebanese army is among the strategic policies of Iran,' the Iranian defense minister said ubn the meeting with his Lebanese guest and counterpart. 'Lebanon should have a strong army to defend its interest in the region.' Lebanon's security is 'an important part of stability in the region,' Vahidi added. In return General Ghosn said, 'Right now there is a complete coordination between the Lebanese army and the Lebanese resistance.' 'Iran and Lebanon have always backed one another and we hope the bilateral interaction would increase,' Ghosn added. He warned Israel against 'any foolishness in attacking Lebanon,' saying if it did so, it would face 'a strong and unified Lebanese army and resistance (the popular Hezbollah), and suffer yet another crusing defeat,' referring to Israel’s 2006 war with Hezbollah alone./end