TEHRAN First Vice President Hassan Habibi told the visiting Lebanese Economy and Trade Minister Basil Flayhan here Tuesday that Iran and Lebanon share close viewpoints for further expansion of bilateral relations in all fields.

He said that there are ample potentials for further development and consolidation of Tehran-Beirut ties, adding that the two countries should employ all their potentials in this respect, IRNA news agency reported.

Pointing to the fact that currently Lebanon stands on the forefront of the struggle against the Zionist regime, Habibi called for support of all Islamic and Arabic countries for Lebanon.

He underlined firm determination of Iranian officials for further consolidation of relations with Lebanon and urged speedy implementation of agreements reached between the two countries.

Calling for the removal of obstacles on the way of bilateral trade transactions, Habibi cited trade and industrial activities as well as investment as suitable grounds that can serve further promotion of Tehran-Beirut cooperation.

He underscored the need for investment and further activation of the private sector in both the countries especially in the industrial sector and said given the special status of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Lebanon, the two sides can be active as the reexport centers in the region.

Flayhan for his part expressed hope that with closer cooperation between Iran and Lebanon relations between the two countries would be further consolidated and the trend of reconstruction accelerated.

He said Lebanon is ready to expand its relations with Iran in all fields, especially in financial and credit, trade and transportation areas.

He further remarked that agreements reached between the two countries in the field of banking will prepare the ground for further promotion of bilateral cooperation.

Flayhan also conveyed an invitation from Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri to the Iranian first vice president for paying a visit to Lebanon.

In a meeting with Governor General of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) Mohsen Nourbakhsh here Monday, Flayhan hoped that Iran would help develop Lebanese economy through investment in the country's liberated territories in the south as well as in western Bekaa.

Nourbakhsh stressed promotion of economic ties between Iran and Lebanon to a desirable level and expressed hope that common and strong bonds between the two countries would provide the chance for expansion of trade transactions and help promote mutual cooperation.