At a joint meeting which lasted for about an hour, both sides discussed ways to expand bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on developments in the region, including the ones in Syria.

Velayati described Aoun as a strong and effective figure who played a leading role in political affairs of his country.

“Lebanon is today one of the safest countries in the region,” said the official emphasizing on the role of Michel Aoun in political stability and convergence between political groups of the Arab country.

He later underlined that recent victories of Lebanon against terrorist groups were a sign of strength of the Lebanese people and government; “coherence and convergence of the Lebanese nation and government has been unique and unparalleled in current sensitive era.”

“Iran backs the diversity and plurality which exists in Lebanon and insists on success of the incumbent Lebanese government with all its diverse trends,” highlighted Velayati stressing that Iran was seeking to expand relations with Lebanon.

He noted that Lebanon’s success in expelling terrorist groups had had significant and positive consequences for both Lebanon and the region, and that the countries in the region must work hand in hand in order to realize stability and security and at the same time prevent the US and the Zionist regime from obtaining their sinister objectives like creating differences between regional countries.

Velayati called on regional countries to strengthen recent achievements through diplomatic and political efforts and greater coordination in order to bring back stability to the region.

Michel Aoun, for his part, highlighted Iran’s role in promoting stability and security in the region and emphasized the need to bolster ties between Tehran and Beirut.

Ali Akbar Velayati had arrived in Lebanon in order to participate in second International Union of Resistance Scholars and meet with Lebanese officials.