Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has told Lebanon's Culture Minister Mohammad Wissam al-Mortada that the people of the region will never brook normalization of relations with Israel.
He made the remarks in Tehran Wednesday as the two ministers discussed the latest developments in the region, promotion of relations among the Islamic countries and especially development of cooperation between the two countries.
Amir-Abdollahian touched on the special place of Lebanon in Iran's foreign policy and the historical antiquity of good relations between the Iranian nation and all Lebanese groups and tribes.
He called the resistance of the Lebanese people against the continuous aggression of the Zionist regime a shining example for the nations of the region.
"Therefore, the resilient people of the region will never go under the burden of normalization with the terrorist and child-killing Israeli regime," the Iranian foreign minister added.
In September 2020, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed normalization agreements brokered by the United States with Israel. Sudan and Morocco followed suit, triggering a chorus of condemnation among Muslims, with Palestinians calling it a stab in their back.
Amir-Abdollahian touched on the difficult economic situation in Lebanon amid oppressive Western sanctions on the country, reiterating Tehran's readiness to upgrade economic cooperation with Beirut if demanded by the Lebanese government and people.
Western countries, led by the United States, have targeted the Lebanese economy with draconian sanctions with the aim of pressuring the government in Beirut to ostracize Hezbollah and cut it from the country's political and military landscape.
The resistance movement is a nemesis of the West and Israel for inflicting repeated defeats on their regional schemes, especially during two recent wars which shattered Tel Aviv's myth of invincibility.
Al-Mortada, for his part, hailed Iran's special place in the West Asian region, saying Beirut is ready to expand its relations with all friendly and brotherly regional countries, especially the Islamic Republic.
He touched on problems related to the livelihood and basic needs of the Lebanese people, stressing that the Lebanese government and nation, nonetheless, will act in the national interests of their country and will never wait for outside help or solutions.