Paris, Tehran to Consolidate Stability of 'Friendly' Lebanon

French President Francois Hollande and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani have reached an agreement on consolidating stability in Lebanon, An Nahar daily reported on Friday.

The newspaper's correspondent said Hollande and Rouhani discussed the situation in Lebanon during the meeting they held in Paris on Thursday.

“It seems there is an understanding between the two countries to consolidate stability in Lebanon,” he said.

“Lebanon is witnessing a cautious calm and the situation is tense,” Hollande said at a press conference with Rouhani. “It is up to France to preserve its stability, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.”

“France and Iran should seek to end the constitutional vacuum,” he added.

Lebanon has been without a president since May 2014.

The Iranian president said the two countries should work together “to help Lebanon come out of instability.”

He also described the Lebanese as “friendly people.”

Rouhani's talks with Hollande also touched on Iran's role in Syria, where Tehran is backing President Bashar Assad in a war that has killed 260,000 people.

Rouhani had begun his European visit in Italy.

The trip is an effort to usher in a new era after a landmark accord to curb Iran's nuclear program and lift Western sanctions. However, France is now weighing new sanctions over Iranian ballistic missile tests.

G.K.

D.A.