All foreign forces must end unauthorized presence in Syria: Iran FM

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says all countries must facilitate the peace process in Syria and refrain from making decisions on its fate, stressing that foreign troops need to end their unauthorized presence in the Arab country.

"All the forces entering Syria without the permission of the official leadership must exit," Zarif said during a joint press conference with Lebanese Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Minister Gebran Bassil in Beirut on Monday.

He added that Iran is making efforts to contribute to finding a political solution to the crisis in Syria, emphasizing that any solution must protect the country’s territorial integrity.

Zarif's remarks came after a senior commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said earlier in the day that enemies of the Islamic Republic must finally leave the region instead of expecting Iran to end its regional presence.

PressTV-Iran's enemies must leave region: IRGC commander

A senior IRGC commander says Iran's enemies must finally leave the region instead of expecting Tehran to end its regional presence.

"They want Iran to leave the region to clear the way for their dominance and allow them once again to control our borders [in order] to be able to create problems for the Iranian nation," Brigadier General Hossein Salami, the IRGC's second-in-command, said.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in January threatened to “expel” all Iranian forces in Syria, describing Washington’s declared troop withdrawal from Syria as a “tactical change” and added that the American mission to counter Iranian influence there remained the same.

The US has repeatedly lambasted Iran for its presence in Syria. At the request of Damascus, Iran has been providing military advisory assistance to Syrian government forces fighting an all-out foreign-sponsored militancy.

Read more:

• Syria urges illegal foreign forces to leave Arab country
• Turkey calls for joint cooperation with Iran, Russia on US forces’ pullout from Syria

Elsewhere in the presser, Zarif expressed confidence that the new Lebanese government would succeed in solving the political crisis in the country.

"We will always support the [Lebanese] people and extend a helping hand in every way possible, and we are ready to respond to the Lebanese government’s request to cooperate with it in any vital area it deems appropriate” the top Iranian diplomat said.

Late last month, 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 Prime Minister Saad 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.

Speaking to reporters in the Lebanese capital on Sunday, shortly after his arrival for the two-day official visit, Zarif said Tehran is ready to cooperate with the new Lebanese government in all sectors.

PressTV-Iran ready to cooperate with new Lebanon govt.: Zarif

Foreign Minister Zarif says Tehran will welcome cooperation with the new Lebanese government in all sectors.

"If the Lebanese government demands, Iran is ready to cooperate with this country in all fields," he said.

During Monday's presser, the Iranian foreign minister hailed the Lebanese government's stance on an anti-Iran conference due to be held by the US in the Polish capital city of Warsaw later this week.

The United States initially put much effort into making the Warsaw meeting an anti-Iran platform, but had to back away from many of its suppositions about the meeting, because it was snubbed by most world officials.

Read more:

• Iran’s Zarif: Warsaw meeting a failure in advance
• Iran summons Polish envoy to protest US 'circus' in Warsaw
• Activists launch petition to urge Europe to boycott US anti-Iran summit in Poland
• Upcoming anti-Iran conference in Poland ‘desperate circus’: FM Zarif

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Iranian foreign minister further stressed the importance of developing economic ties with Lebanon, saying, "There is no international law that prevents Iran and Lebanon from cooperating. Even (the United Nations Security Council) Resolution 2231 requires all countries to normalize their economic relations with Iran.”

Resolution 2231 enshrines the international nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), from which Washington withdrew in May under the pretext, among others, that it should have included Iran's missile program as well.

Under the deal, reached between Iran and six world powers -- the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China plus Germany, Tehran agreed to put limits on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related sanctions.

Lebanon FM stresses need for Syria political solution, return of refugees

The Lebanese foreign minister, for his part, stressed the importance of finding a swift political solution to the Syria crisis and facilitating a safe return for Syrian refugees to their homeland.

“We support the formation of a Syrian constitution and all efforts aimed at facilitating a safe return of Syrian refugees to their homeland,” Bassil said, highlighting Iran’s support to help ensure their speedy and safe return.

"The Syrian state has a significant contribution that it can encourage the return of refugees through guarantees on individual property rights and military service,” he added.

The top Lebanese diplomat also said that his country would not partake in the upcoming Warsaw conference due to Israel’s presence.

“We explained why we will not be present at the Warsaw conference… Israel will be present and because of the orientation the conference is expected to take,” Bassil said.

He welcomed the establishment of economic ties between Tehran and Beirut "if there are frameworks that could protect Lebanon."

Zarif, Nasrallah discuss developments in Lebanon, Middle East

In another meeting on Monday, the Iranian foreign minister and Secretary General of Lebanon’s Hezbollah resistance movement Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah discussed the latest developments in Lebanon and other regional countries.

Zarif said Iran would continue to support the Lebanese government, people and resistance and is ready to keep cooperating with Lebanon in all possible domains.

The Hezbollah chief, for his part, hailed Iran's support for Lebanon, Palestine and all resistance movements in the region in the face of the Israeli aggression and Takfiri terrorist groups, which resulted in victories on several fronts.

Nasrallah expressed hope that Iran would continue to thrive despite foreign pressure and plots against the Islamic Republic.

Iran-Lebanon ties not against any other country: Zarif

Earlier on Monday, Zarif met and conferred with the Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

During the meeting, Iran's foreign minister congratulated Lebanon’s top parliamentarian on the formation of new government in the country, adding that Tehran is ready to expand its relations with Beirut in all fields.

He added that development of Tehran-Beirut relations was in favor of both nations, emphasizing that Iran's relations with Lebanon were not aimed at harming any third country.

Zarif also highlighted economic and trade relations as to major areas in which the two countries enjoyed enormous potential for cooperation.

For his part, the speaker of the Lebanese parliament congratulated Zarif on the 40^th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, expressing hope that relations between the two countries will expand in all areas.

Berri and Zarif also discussed the latest developments in Syria, noting that improvement in the country’s security conditions has been a very important and positive step.

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