TEHRAN - Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil said on Sunday that Iran has entered a new era after the nuclear agreement, a stage in which he said will free Iran’s great capacities which Lebanon can also benefit from.

“We are witnessing Iran’s advances according to regional and national standards,” he told reporters after a meeting with Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior adviser to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution.

The remarks by the Lebanese foreign minister came as the European Union was to announce the gradual lifting of economic sanctions against Iran on Sunday.

------Iran calls Lebanese resistance a ‘source of pride’

Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior advisor to the Supreme Leader, said on Sunday that Lebanon’s resistance against the Zionist regime and terrorists is a “source of pride” in the region, particularly in the Arab world.

“Lebanon, like some other regional countries, is under the pressure being exerted by the Zionists and terrorist and Takfiri movements; we know that there is no way but joint cooperation in the region to resolve such problems,” Velayati said during his meeting with Bassil.

He also said that Iran and Lebanon share common views on the Syrian crisis and oppose any foreign intervention in the region.

Iran is aware that the Syrians’ resistance is supported by the Lebanese people, added Velayati who served as Iran’s foreign minister from 1981 to 1997.

The Lebanese foreign minister said that Iran plays a “critical” role in the region.

Bassil added that Lebanon will not forget Iran’s part in countering terrorism.

-----‘Eradicating terrorism in Syria will bring security to Lebanon’s borders’

In a separate meeting with Bassil on Sunday, Secretary of Iranian Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani said rooting out terrorism in Syria will be “an effective” step in strengthening security at Lebanon’s borders.


The security official also said some powers in the region are making efforts to undermine security in Lebanon and create impediments to the democratic process in electing a president in the country.

He also said that Iran supports “stability, security and democracy” in Lebanon.

Shamkhani also said that internal dialogue is essential to restore security in Syria.

For his part, Bassil praised Iran’s support for the Lebanese government and people. He also called on Lebanon’s allies to play more active role in helping the various political factions agree on electing president.

In a separate meeting on Sunday Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also told Bssil that Tehran respects any decisions by the Lebanese to resolve their differences on the long-awaited expectation to elect a president.

Zarif also expressed hope that Iran-Lebanon ties would expand.

Bassil said that the Lebanese businessmen will take action in expanding economic ties with Iran.

NA/PA