Iran: support to Lebanon's welfare, independence
Iran yesterday said that it supports the independence of Lebanon and prosperity of its nation.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran has from the very beginning favored policies that support the welfare, independence and clear manifestation of the will of the Lebanese people" the spokesman of the Iranian Foreign Ministry Seyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini said.
He stressed that Iran has at all times sought liberation of every piece of occupied Lebanese lands, including the Shabaa Farms.
Regarding anti-Iran allegations by certain officials in Lebanon, the spokesman responded by saying such "unreal publicity remarks will neither alter realities in Lebanon nor contribute to the settlement of its existing problems." Declaring Iran's readiness to "support any consensus reached by the Lebanese people on any issue," Hosseini also expressed the hope that the nation of Lebanon and its political parties will secure their legitimate demands through peaceful means.
"The noble nation of Lebanon during their 33-day period of resistance against the Zionist regime's aggressions showed that they have reached political maturity.
"They arrive at decisions independently and act with courage and remarkable wisdom," the spokesman said.
Meantime, on a non-official level, Iran Substitute Friday prayers leader of Tehran Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami expressed yesterday sentiments that the ongoing events in Lebanon are in fact a follow-up of Israel's 33-day war on the country.
Ayatollah Khatami said in his second sermon to large groups of worshipers in this week's Friday prayers congregation in Tehran University that Britain, the US, and Israel are trying to gain in the scene of diplomacy through Lebanese government's support whatever they failed to win in the 33-day war.
The Ayatollah welcomed Lebanese Hizbullah for criticizing current "unpopular" shape of Lebanese government and said, "Shiites, Sunnis, and Christians should have a share in the cabinet in proportion to their weight. The call of Lebanese Hizbullah is logical and stems from within Lebanese nation." He blasted Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora for opposing Hizbullah's notion and said the chief minister does not understand the obvious point well and, trying to play a blame game, wants to accuse some people of turning Lebanon into the scene of Iran-US conflict." He added, "Such blame games will not untie the Gordian knot of the non-national Lebanese government that -- as Lebanese Hizbullah has rightly said-- is the US Embassy (in Lebanon)."