‘Iran ready to equip Lebanese army’

Iran Ambassador to Beirut Ghazanfar Roknabadi has repeated the Islamic Republic™s readiness to equip the Lebanese army with necessary materiel.

“We had already announced our position. Our stance is unchanging and we are always ready to help equip the Lebanese Army,” Roknabadi pointed out.

He made the remarks during a meeting with Michel Aoun, Lebanon’s leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, in Beirut to discuss bilateral and regional issues.

Iran™s Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi had previously announced that Tehran was ready for defense cooperation with Beirut upon the Lebanese side’s request.

œLebanon is our friend. If we receive any demand [for equipping their army], we have full potential to help them,” he had said.

Roknabadi also reaffirmed Iran™s support of the Lebanese resistance movement as well as the Syrian government.

Foreign-sponsored militancy in Syria, which erupted in March 2011, has claimed the lives of many people, including large numbers of Syrian soldiers and security personnel.

Iran has repeatedly expressed its opposition to any foreign intervention in Syria’s internal affairs, stressing that inclusive dialog and national reconciliation as well as free elections are key to resolving the crisis in the Arab country.

AR/SS