Iranian invitation for Patriarch Safir to visit Iran

Iran's ambassador in Lebanon, Mohammed Ali Sovhani, said his country desires to enhance its relations with all the Lebanese factions and not only with one front.

Following his meeting yesterday evening with the Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Nasrallah Safir, Sovhani said that he renewed the invitation to the Patriarch to visit Iran, and he promised to fulfill it in the year 2000.

Sovhani quoted Safir as saying that the Lebanese resistance in the south represents all the Lebanese people and they are supported by everyone.

Regarding his expectation of whether peace could be achieved in the area, the Iranian ambassador said, "We do not trust what Israel says, and we are not optimistic of the possibility of achieving peace, as there is a contradiction between words and deeds in Israel."