Roknabadi: No One Knows Details of Syrian-Saudi Initiative which Iran Welcomes

Iranian ambassador Gazanfar Roknabadi reiterated Thursday that Tehran welcomes any initiative aimed at ending the Lebanese crisis and denied the Islamic Republic had details of Syrian-Saudi efforts to reach a settlement.

"I have previously announced the stance of the Islamic Republic from the initiative," Roknabadi said in response to a question after meeting with Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Beirut Elias Audi.

"Iran welcomes this initiative and any other initiative that helps Lebanon overcome this difficult stage," he told reporters. "We hope this initiative would achieve results as soon as possible."

When asked about a newspaper report that the settlement preserves the regional balance and the resistance, the ambassador said: "No one knows the details of the initiative but the most important thing is that we are following up and seeing in the media that this initiative will have a positive role in (helping) Lebanon overcome this stage."

Roknabadi also visited Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir in Bkirki on Thursday to extend his Christmas and New Year Greetings.

The ambassador did not make a statement after the meeting.