Deputy FM Meets Lebanese Premier

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Jaberi Ansari discussed bilateral relations and regional developments with Lebanon’s newly-elected Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Thursday. Speaking in the meeting, Ansari said regional conflicts have no military solution and wars will only erode the regional nations’ power and benefit no one, except the Israeli regime, IRNA reported. The Lebanese premier said the key to political settlement of regional conflicts is giving all citizens their share in running the country and ensuring their equal rights. Hariri hoped the nearly six-year-old crisis in neighboring Syria will soon be ended, as its spillover is heavy burden on Lebanon’s shoulders.

Ansari told reporters after the meeting that he had a “very good and useful” meeting and hopes that a new chapter would open in Tehran-Beirut relations soon. Before coming to Beirut, Ansari arrived in Damascus on Wednesday, where he held discussions with high-ranking Syrian officials, including President Bashar al-Assad, Prime Minister Imad Mohammad Khamis, Foreign Minister Walid Muallem and Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad. Ansari also accompanied Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a trilateral meeting of Iran, Russia and Turkey on Syria’s conflict on Tuesday.