Rouhani to Aoun: Lebanese Won't Allow Lebanon to be Conflict Arena

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday held phone talks with President Michel Aoun, voicing confidence that the Lebanese “will not allow Lebanon to become an arena for the conflict of forces.”

According to the National News Agency, talks between the two presidents tackled “the general situations, the current developments and a host of current issues.”

A political aide to Rouhani quoted the Iranian leader as telling Aoun that “through their prudence, the great Lebanese people will overcome this new sedition and will not allow Lebanon to become an arena for the conflict of forces or for the return of terrorists.”

Rouhani emphasized to Aoun that “unity and harmony among ethnicities, sects and religions in Lebanon will guarantee the defeat of foreign sedition attempts and regional problems.”

“Iran will always stand by the Lebanese people and will spare no effort to contribute to consolidating Lebanon's stability and firmness,” the Iranian president added.

Aoun for his part told Rouhani, according to the Iranian president's aide, that “despite the presence of very, very feeble voices seeking to create sedition in Lebanon, Lebanon and the Lebanese are moving forward serenely.”

Hariri stunned the Lebanese with his resignation on Saturday and a haltingly delivered televised statement from Saudi Arabia fueled speculations.

In the speech, he accused Iran of meddling in Arab affairs and Iran-backed Hizbullah of holding Lebanon hostage.

Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah speculated on Sunday that Saudi Arabia had forced Hariri to resign amid the deepening Saudi-Iran rivalry.