NNA - President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, received this morning at Baabda Palace, Iranian Speaker of the Shura Council, Dr. Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Mojtaba Amani, accompanied by a delegation, in the presence of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Minister Youssef Rajji.
Speaker Qalibaf conveyed to President Aoun the greetings of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, extending to him an invitation to pay an official visit to Tehran. Qalibaf also congratulated Aoun on his election as President of the Republic and touched on the Lebanese-Iranian relations and the need to develop them in all fields.
Qalibaf stressed "the unity and integrity of Lebanese territory and the sovereignty of the state over it", expressing "his country's readiness to participate with Arab and Islamic countries in rebuilding what was destroyed by the Israeli aggression on Lebanon." He also emphasized that "the Islamic Republic of Iran wants to see Lebanon a stable, secure and prosperous country", noting that "his country supports any decision taken by Lebanon away from any foreign interference in its affairs".
President Aoun, in turn, welcomed Speaker Qalibaf and the accompanying delegation, noting that "over many decades, Lebanon has lost great leaders, and during the recent Israeli aggression, martyrs fell in defense of Lebanon's unity and stability.
He said: “Lebanon is tired of the wars of others on its land, and I agree with you that countries should not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, and the best way to confront any loss or aggression is the unity of the Lebanese. We share with you what the Iranian constitution indicated in its ninth article, which confirms that the country’s freedom, independence, territorial integrity, and safety are indivisible matters.”
Aoun continued to underline what is stated in the Iranian constitution's ninth article, in terms of the government and all members of the people bearing the responsibility of preserving it, and that "no individual, group or official has the right to cause the slightest harm to the political, cultural, economic or military independence of the country, or to undermine the territorial integrity of the country under the pretext of exercising freedom."
President Aoun commended the recent Riyadh Summit's outcome, in which the Islamic Republic of Iran participated, especially "the affirmation of the two-state solution to the Palestinian issue," and that "the Palestinian Authority is the legitimate representative of the Palestinians."
"Lebanon paid a heavy price in defense of the Palestinian cause," he said, expressing his hope for "reaching a just solution."
The President stressed Lebanon's keenness to establish the best relations with Tehran in the interests of the two countries and the people.
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