Boroujerdi Begins Lebanon Visit, Says Iran 'Has Never Obstructed' Political Solutions

Chairman of Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Alaeddin Boroujerdi began an official visit to Lebanon on Monday during which he is expected to hold talks with top officials.

During his two-day visit Boroujerdi is expected to hold meetings with Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Tammam Salam, Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil, Loyalty to the Resistance parliamentary bloc, Palestinian factions and the Muslim Scholars Committee.

The Iranian official held talks with FM Bassil at the Foreign Ministry in Ashrafieh, after which he announced that “Iran's firm policy is based on the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, including Lebanon.”

“However, in light of the ties of friendship, brotherhood and fraternity that link us to brotherly Lebanon, we would play a part, if asked, in any political efforts aimed at resolving this political vacuum in Lebanon,” Boroujerdi added.

“We are fully confident that the rational Lebanese political leaders will eventually manage to find the appropriate solution to this presidential vacuum,” he went on to say.

Boroujerdi later paid a visit to the tomb of slain Hizbullah commander Imad Mughniyeh in Ghobairi.

Answering a reporter's question, the Iranian official stressed that Tehran “has never been an obstacle in the way of any political solution in Lebanon.”

Upon his arrival at the Rafik Hariri International Airport earlier in the day, Boroujerdi, whose visit coincides with Army Day, hailed the “distinctive” role of the Lebanese army and lauded its efforts in countering the Israeli threat and extremist terrorism.

MP Ali Bazzi, representing Berri, MP Ali Moqdad representing Loyalty to the Resistance bloc and the Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Mohammed Fathali welcome the Iranian top diplomat at the airport.

Diplomatic sources specializing in Iranian affairs told al-Joumhouria daily that Boroujerdi's visit comes in the framework of “promoting” the new Iranian perspectives in the region, following the “developments on the ground in Syria's Aleppo and in Yemen between the rebels and former President Ali Abdullah Saleh in the face of the Arab-Islamic alliance led by Saudi Arabia.”