Iran ready to work with Lebanon, neighboring countries

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said here on Wednesday that Tehran is prepared for cooperation with the neighboring countries to achieve stability, security and growth.

"Iran extends its hands to neighboring countries for cooperation," including "all forms of cooperation" with Lebanon to help it achieve growth, Zarif said in a joint press conference with his Lebanese counterpart Gebran Bassil.

As for the ongoing political crisis in Lebanon, mainly the election of a new President, Zarif said "we do not meddle in internal Lebanese affairs and neither should other countries."

Lebanon has been without a president since the six-year term of former President Michel Suleiman ended in May last year. The parliament has failed for 27 times in convening to elect an incumbent.

On the nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers, Zarif said that it "demonstrated that the use of force and sanctions cannot resolve regional conflicts," and that countries in the region now have the opportunity to adopt such an approach.

Zarif arrived in Lebanon on Tuesday as part of a regional tour. He has met Prime Minister Tammam Salam and Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.

The discussions focused on bilateral relations, the latest local and regional developments, and cooperation between Lebanon and Iran. Enditem