Sarmadi Meets Nasrallah, Says Presidential Deadlock Requires Lebanese Consensus
The special envoy of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Morteza Sarmadi, met during a short visit to Lebanon Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, stressing that the presidential stalemate in Lebanon could only be resolved by the Lebanese.
“Such a local matter could only be resolved by the rival parties and the key issue is consensus among the Lebanese,” Sarmadi said in an interview published in As Safir newspaper published on Friday.
He stressed that Tehran supports any agreement that the Lebanese reach over the identity of the new president.
The Iranian diplomat reiterated his country's offer to deliver arms to Lebanon, pointing out that there are no obstacles preventing Tehran from carrying out such a deal “if the Lebanese would accept it.”
The controversial Iranian grant to the Lebanese army was first discussed in October, however it created a rift among cabinet members.
Iran's offer of support follows aid packages for the Lebanese army from both its regional rival Saudi Arabia and the United States.
It comes as the Lebanese army is battling jihadists from al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State group, who are entrenched on the outskirts of the northeastern border town of Arsal on the porous Syrian-Lebanese border.
Sarmadi said that “combating terrorism and extremism requires the unity of all the countries in the region to prevent the expansion of such phenomena.”
“We are ready to cooperate with the concerned authorities in Lebanon to counter terrorism.”
Sarmadi visited Beirut Wednesday and met with senior Lebanese officials, including Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Tammam Salam and Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil.
As Safir newspaper also reported that the Iranian diplomat met with Hizbullah chief Nasrallah.
He praised the party's resistance against Israel, considering that Nasrallah is “wisely leading Hizbullah.”
Hizbullah is part of the so-called axis of resistance -- which comprises Iran and Syria.
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