Tehran - Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on
Tuesday told visiting Lebanese President Michel Suleiman that to
stand against Israel, Lebanon needed to maintain unity among various
groups.
'Iran believes that the strength of all Lebanese groups lies in
national unity for effectively confronting the Zionist regime
(Israel),' the ayatollah said in his meeting with Suleiman.
Suleiman arrived in Tehran on Monday for a two-day state visit. He
is the third Lebanese president to visit Tehran since the 1979
Islamic revolution.
'Iran will always stand beside Lebanon and I hope that the summit
in Tehran will lead to expansion of bilateral ties,' said the
ayatollah, who according to the constitution has the final say on all
state matters.
While referring to the Lebanese anti-Israel militia group
Hezbollah, Khamenei said the Lebanese resistance succeeded in pushing
Israel out of Lebanon's territories in the summer of 2006 and turned
the country into a symbol for resistance and courage within the
Moslem world.
'The spirit of resistance (against Israel) should first grow in
the (Muslims') hearts and then be implemented in practice and be
continued,' the Ayatollah said.
Iran supports the Lebanese anti-Israel militia group Hezbollah,
but has characterized the support as 'spiritual' and has denied
giving military or financial aid.
Khamenei praised the Lebanese government for hosting Palestinian
refugees and predicted that they would be able to return to their
homelands.
State television quoted Suleiman as expressing his country's
gratitude for Iran's constant support for Lebanon and its aid in
developing his country following the 2006 military confrontation with
Israel.
Suleiman met on Monday with his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad who promised his visiting Lebanese counterpart Michel
Suleiman that Iran would always stand by Lebanon.
'Lebanon has finally found its track after many stormy years and
now enjoys tranquillity and security,' Ahmadinejad said in his
meeting with Suleiman.
Ahmadinejad said Lebanese resistance against Israel had turned
Lebanon into a symbol of courage in the region.
Suleiman said he hoped the Tehran-Beirut summit would lead to
strengthened bilateral ties.
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