Iran will defend the rights of the Lebanese and Palestinians

During a visit made by a Lebanese economic delegation to Tehran, the Iranian president Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsinjani said that his country would defend Lebanon and the Palestinians against Israeli aggression.

"Iran will defend the rights of the Lebanese and Palestinian peoples against the aggressors," Rafsanjani said in a radio statement.

"It is the duty of Islamic countries to help solve the problems of countries that fight against Israel, and Iran is ready to act again in this direction," he added.

A Lebanese economic delegation arrived in Tehran on July 12 in the first such visit since Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution, which Rafsanjani said had helped open a "new phase" in Iranian Lebanese relations.

The delegation, led by Lebanese Economy Minister Yassin Jaber, participated in a joint economic meeting.

Members of the economic delegation include the minister of state for finance, Fouad Seniora, and the governor of the central bank, Riad Salameh.

During their week-long visit, the delegates will be holding talks with representatives from the housing ministry and other Iranian officials.

Several members of the present Lebanese government have paid working visits to Iran and interior minister Michel Murr represented Lebanon in Tehran at the 1996 inauguration of the "New silk road."

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Valayati said at the beginning of May that Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri is expected to pay an official visit to Iran in a few months. officials said the visit would take place during the swearing in of Iran's new president, Mohammed Khatami, scheduled for August.

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