Iran ready to help new Lebanon government upon request: FM Zarif

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says Tehran is ready to cooperate with the new Lebanese government in all sectors.

"If the Lebanese government demands, Iran is ready to cooperate with this country in all fields," Zarif told reporters in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, on Sunday, shortly after his arrival for a two-day official visit.

Zarif congratulated the Lebanese on the formation of a new national unity government and said he was there to express Iran's solidarity with Lebanon.

The top Iranian diplomat emphasized that Lebanon is the symbol of resistance in the Middle East.

Zarif is scheduled to hold talks with Lebanese President Michel Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil on Monday.

The Iranian foreign minister's visit to Beirut came a few weeks after Lebanon's presidency announced the formation of the new national unity government, putting an end to a nine-month stalemate on the political stage, which fueled the Arab country's economic woes.

PressTV-Lebanon forms new govt., breaks political impasse

Lebanon's presidency announces the formation of a new national unity government, putting an end to months-long stalemate on the country's political stage.

The new government, headed by Hariri, includes 30 ministers from most Lebanese political factions, which have been in talks after the country in May 2018 held its first parliamentary elections in nine years.

Earlier this week, the secretary general of the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah strongly dismissed latest allegations by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the movement is in control of the Lebanese government, stressing the new administration belongs to all political factions participating in it.

PressTV-‘New Lebanese govt. not controlled by Hezbollah’

Nasrallah says the new Lebanese national unity government is not controlled by Hezbollah resistance movement.

The Israeli premier is “provoking the United States, European countries and the [Persian] Gulf states against the Lebanese government, claiming that it is controlled by Hezbollah. Such false claims have serious international repercussions,” Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said as he addressed his supporters via a televised speech broadcast live from Beirut.

Zarif meets leaders of Palestinian groups, Islamic Jihad in Beirut

Later on Sunday, Zarif met with the leaders of Palestinian groups based on Lebanon during which the leaders of Palestinian groups congratulated Iran's foreign minister on the 40^th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.

The two sides then discussed regional developments with emphasis on the issue of Palestine, as well as the importance of unity and solidarity to counter the plots of the enemies of the Islamic world.

Zarif also met with the secretary general of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement in Beirut. The meeting was focused on regional issues, especially the issue of Palestine and the anti-Israeli resistance.

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