Iranian FM to visit Lebanon, Jordan

The spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Hamid Rida Asefi, said on Monday in Tehran that Iranian Foreign Minister amal Kharazi will visit Lebanon and Jordan shortly.

The spokesman stated that Kharazi will hold talks with his Lebanese counterpart and meet with Jordan's king, prime minister and foreign minister. The discussions will tackle the situation in the Middle East.

Iranian President Mohammed Khatami visited Syria last month, where he met with Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, secretary general of Hizbullah, and Walid Jumblatt, leader of Lebanon's Progressive Socialist Party.

Meanwhile, Iranian sources confirmed that Iranian Minister of Defense General Ali Shamkhani will pay a visit to Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, in reply at the visit paid by the latter to Tehran three weeks ago.

In press statements, the Iranian minister of defense said that strong stability and security in the strategic Gulf region can never be achieved unless the region's forces combine together, preventing the interference of foreign forces.