Zarif Begins Lebanon Visit, Lauds Salam's 'Major Role' in 'Stability, Anti-Terror Fight'
Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif began a two-day visit to Lebanon on Tuesday by meeting Prime Minister Tammam Salam.
“We discussed cooperation between the two countries and bilateral ties,” said Zarif after the Grand Serail talks.
“We appreciate the major role that was played by the prime minister of Lebanon to provide security, fight extremism and terror, and find cooperation among the various Lebanese parties,” the FM added.
He noted that Salam's role has led to “more calm, stability and security in this country.”
Addressing the domestic Lebanese disputes, Zarif noted that “the time is not for competition and rivalry in Lebanon.”
“If there should be competition, it must be over building Lebanon,” he added.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran supports the Lebanese people and their demands,” Zarif went on to say.
Agence France-Presse quoted an official who attended the meeting as saying that Salam and Zarif discussed Lebanon's ongoing presidential vacuum and agreed there should be more discussion on this topic.
Upon his arrival at Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport earlier in the day, the minister had hoped the nuclear deal between his country and world powers would “pave the way to opening a new chapter of ties between countries in the region.”
He emphasized that his talks with Lebanese officials will tackle cooperation between Beirut and Tehran.
“We are in a great need of dialogue and cooperation to confront regional challenges,” added the foreign minister.
Earlier, media reports said that he will stress to Lebanese officials that Tehran's stance towards Syria and Hizbullah has not changed.
Diplomatic sources told al-Joumhouria daily that Zarif would send a clear message to the parties claiming Iran will turn its back on Syria and Hizbullah that Tehran continues to back its allies in the region.
Many critics have said that a nuclear deal signed between Iran and major powers in Vienna last month will lead to a change in the Iranian stance.
During his two-day official visit, Zarif is also scheduled to meet with Speaker Nabih Berri, Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil and Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.
It was not clear if the Iranian Foreign Minister would also visit Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun in Rabieh.
The July 14 deal between Iran and six world powers — the U.S., Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany — is meant to curb Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for lifting sanctions.
In addition to his talks on the deal, Zarif is expected to discuss with the Lebanese officials ways to improve bilateral economic cooperation, the sources told al-Joumhouria.
They said that despite years of sanctions, Iran was able to make major progress in power production.
Lebanon can benefit from Tehran in that regard, the sources added.
G.K./M.T./Y.R.
over 9 years
They have an army in Lebanon wanting to take over the country...they want to create an Islamic Republic...they want to reach the Mediterranean sea and make of Lebanon a spearhead of war...
This is enemy No 1 to Lebanon...
over 9 years
This is not Saudi propaganda...these are declarations of the Wali Al Faqih and other Top Iranian politicians and generals...and of course of Ebola....
over 9 years
Islamic Republic....these are the exact words you can read in the Chart of Ebola.
over 9 years
He is dearly welcome, we need more visits like this.
over 9 years
Is that a martyred iranian jihadi terrorist family in your avatar?
over 9 years
Mystic give these leeaches the example of the peaceful life of equality the Jews are spending in Iran and are free to leave whenever they want.If I was to be in your place Mystic I would just get out of these comments and then watch the fun happen between themselves.
over 9 years
yes Mystic also don't forget to give these leeches examples of how the only sunni mosque in tehran was demolished two weeks ago and how the sunnis are persecuted, jailed, and tortured. If I were you I would just stay where you are and continue your paid mission.
over 9 years
you are right troll56560
we never said iran and the jews were anything but friends and collaborators. Why don't you ask your mystic to tell us how other minorities are living in iran;)
over 9 years
https://youtu.be/3B6MGqWkpMk
How minorities lives in Iran.
over 9 years
He is dearly welcome ya Mystic because your master from Tehran is coming to tell you people that contrary to what he publicly said, things have changed. Just start getting used to putting water in your wine and do learn that your portrayed pompous bravado is an act that belongs to years gone by. Learn to change or change will change you.
over 9 years
Since you mention "change" so badly, how come you went from a seemingly neutral guy to a somewhat Naharnet tough guy like the other M14 fruit cakes around here phoenix?
over 9 years
This evil iranian terrorist is not welcome in Lebanon. Stop interfering in our internal affairs
over 9 years
Qitman and Taqqiya
over 9 years
Iran is an enemy to Lebanon
over 9 years
Mystic, you said and I quote, "ince you mention "change" so badly, how come you went from a seemingly neutral guy to a somewhat Naharnet tough guy like the other M14 fruit cakes around here phoenix?", unquote. If you haven't noticed, I am still neutral, but I am one like so many other Lebanese, whom with time have started getting disillusioned with Hezbollah and its ally Aoun. If you paid attention, I have been persistent with my position, that I wish HA NO harm, that I am one of those who still calls for it to rejoin the fold. But also, I am Lebanese and for me NO ONE is above Lebanon, so if in my own judgement I feel that anyone it may be is trying to harm Lebanon, then obviously I am one who will stand right in the middle of the road and block it. Leave Syria, drop that Clown, surrender your weapons to the LAF, let's have a true government of national unity, then we could all fly high bro. Till then.
over 9 years
Phoenix, you call yourself christians, but all you are just assets to the Wahabis and Zionists.
You share nothing with them, only your love for dollars. That is the reason nobody respects your kind in Lebanon.
over 9 years
If you really cared about Lebanons security, then you would not call for it's demise, by telling the Resistance that is keeping ISIS and Nusra at bay, to turn in their arms and surrender it.
It is not going to happen, you can whine about it all day you want. But you need to accept reality, you have no alternative anymore, we live in another time.
What do you think is best for the Christian people? To live as they do now with their fellow Lebanese people, or be consumed by ISIS and Al Qaeda?
over 9 years
Mystic, I talk of the issues, you talk of me, and even worse, you accuse me and label me. So my dear bro, for today I'll limit it to just this with you, I cannot be seen to be wasting my time in so much futility. Anyway,...have a peaceful evening, I am now going for a walk in the park.
over 9 years
Of course...certainly...they are the most peaceful country and they want the good for Lebanon.....
We don't need them....nor we need anybody else who is not for peace, sovereignty, independance and neutrality
over 9 years
VDL (100.5): The company of Jihad al-Arab has won the waste management bid for Baalbek-Hermel. The contract runs for 3 years where each ton of trash will cost $25.
even their trash has to be collected thru jihad.
over 9 years
(1). Southern, I have always liked Zarif, he is also my friend. You see, Zarif is a pragmatist, he is the FM of Iran's new moderate leadership, Hassan Rouhani that got rid of the crude and hard-line Ahmadinajad and his unrealistic policies. If moderates like Rouhani could topple hard-liners like Ahmadinajad, that's because of several factors, namely, 1, that Iran Supreme leaders know of the consequences of not changing the system, hence the elections of some years ago when the Iranian opposition was robed of its voices. 2, Iran is in dire straights with archaic policies that are not working, hence, Iran, a major petroleum producer doesn't even have petrol at its pumps.
over 9 years
(2). Southern. Iran is facing the worst economic problems nowadays, with it's currency devaluating constantly and the cost of living becoming exorbitant, Iranians are boiling inside now for years with poverty now hitting them even worse than they could stomach. I remember some years ago, Ahmedinajad standing next to the late Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, both holding a Dollar note and mockingly predicting that in a few years it would not be worth more than the very paper it is printed on and that the barrel of Crude will be well above $180. Well my dear Southern, Chavez is dead, the currencies of Iran and especially Venezuela have gone way down, and the Dollar is king, even the Euro is tethering on the borderline and the barrel of Crude Oil is struggling to stay above $50 with expectation for it to dip below $40.
over 9 years
(3). Southern. Ahmedinajad has been sent home and the Iranian moderates made good on their promise to open a new chapter with Amreeka, the Great Satan. The discussions between Iran, the US and the West have taken months on end, months of very tough bargaining, and every time Iran declared that a deal was reached, would Iran's populations take to the street in jubilation. I must ask people like you ya Southern, is it because the Nuclear has won, or is it because the humble potato has won? Ask any Iranian and he will tell you, the Potato is the clear winer here. I've been to Iran several times ya Southern and I do have great respect for Iranians, specially for their coexistence between minorities, Iranians are a good people, but Lebanon and Hezbollah are the furthest things from their stomach ya Southern, they are humans like you and me and have had more than enough of Iran's radical politics, Iranians just want to live and have a good life.
over 9 years
(4). Southern. When you are in Iran, and talk to people, you will immediately see the stark disparity between people and regime, it's like earth from heavens. In Iran, there's a quiet but simmering revolution taking place for years now. The youth of Iran don't want that autocratic life imposed on them for decades now, Iranians by and large are an educated and refined people, the truth is that these people will not accept to be led by a minority of illiterates and theologists, everyone in Iran knows, that sooner or later, another revolution will come and will sweep away the theologists leaders, have you by any chance forgotten what happened in Iran some years ago?
over 9 years
Southern, even though I respect your views, but also I will keep saying, let us wait and see what happens in due time, in the world of politics there is one word always missing, "Honesty".
over 9 years
(5). Southern. Today the deal has been done, and truth is that Iran is more than interested in keeping the deal, even if it had to make profound compromises. Iran is seriously cash-strapped, the ambitions of the hard-liners have yielded nothing but disasters for Iranians, what Zarif is coming to tell you guys is simple, times have changed. Of course, let no one expect anyone to divulge anything but nice headlines, but we shall see in due time what these changes are all about and seemingly the news are not good for Hezbollah and even less so for Yemen and Syria. The time has now dawned for realpolitiks in the Middle East. Saudi is threatening that if Iran was allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, that it too will develop its own arsenal starting an unwanted nuclear race in the region, could Iran keep up? Saudi is getting a lot more assertive and aggressive lately facing up to Iran, is this mere coincidence?
over 9 years
(6). Southern. In Lebanon, M14 has also become a lot more assertive facing up tit for tat to the Hezbollah-led M8, how long can this go on? Then there's Israel, do you or I know what Iran has shed to appease it and the US. Is IS, ISIS and the Islamists another sheer coincidence? I can tell you this, Zarif can only make such a statement as this, but usually it indicates the very contrary. Sayed Hassan may want top put up a happy brave face in public, but in private he has no choice but frown as he slowly but surely swallows the new realities of policy changes. The first victims of these changes are people like Michel Aoun who will neither see the presidency nor his son-in-law become army chief, thus your key ally is now cut down to size.
over 9 years
(7). Southern. Your other main ally, Nabih Berri and his Amal party is getting restless with his age-old desire to mark out his independence from Hezbollah. Whatever it may be, I am like you, Zarif is our friend all of us, especially that now he is coming with the best news we've ever anticipated. Just get used to it Southern, nothing is permanent but the temporary.
over 9 years
I must say IFM Mohammad Javad is very zarif in person.. although not as zarif as Carolyne.. SWEET CAROLYNE!!
over 9 years
Kiss the hands of those who brought "Islam" to Lebanon, or find some other creating thing to do.
saudijack
how exactly is iran an enemy? did they ever bomb Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, or Bahrain? Ever harm us the Shiaas in any way? your propaganda only echoes Saudi Arabia's wishes: to see us the shiaas turn our backs on our friends masters, and leaders, those who helped us kick out the occupiers and regain our shiaa sovereignty.
and Saudijack: that's your opinion, but your opinion is irrelevant here. zarif will come and be welcomed in our homes and in our hearts, and you'll just have to live with it it.