Iran offers Lebanon defense cooperation

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri visits a military exhibition in Tehran on Sunday. (Reuters)

By AGENCIES

Published: Nov 29, 2010 00:26 Updated: Nov 29, 2010 00:26

TEHRAN: Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi on Sunday told Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri that Tehran was prepared to help the Lebanese Army, the state television's website reported.

"We have stated on several occasions, and we say it again today, that we stand alongside the Lebanese Army and are prepared to cooperate" with it, Vahidi said during a meeting with the visiting premier, the report said.

In a symbolic move, Vahidi offered Hariri an Iranian-made sub-machine gun Tondar (Thunder), used in urban warfare. Iranian television showed pictures of the gilded weapon which was placed in a wooden box.

Hariri for his part expressed optimism that his visit would enhance cooperation between Iran and Lebanon in the field of defense, according to the report.

Hariri, who arrived in Tehran on Saturday for a three-day official visit, made the statement after visiting an exhibition dedicated to the achievements of Iran's defense industry.

"The stability, security and unity of Lebanon play a very important role in resolving regional and internal issues. Therefore, I wanted to come to Iran and see your defense achievements, even though it is contrary to the position of our enemies," Hariri was quoted as saying.

Earlier this month the United States, which accuses Iran of interference in Lebanon, lifted a freeze on $100 million in US military aid to Lebanon.

The Iranian minister also criticized a UN tribunal probing the 2005 assassination of Hariri's father, former Premier Rafik Hariri, while condemning his killers as "enemies of Lebanon." "Today, some from outside Lebanon seek to take the security of Lebanon hostage, in the form of the tribunal," Vahidi said.

The tribunal is expected to implicate high-ranking Hezbollah officials in the murder, but the party has warned against this. The group's leader said Sunday that evidence believed to be held by UN investigators implicating his group in the murder is worthless. Hassan Nasrallah said he is confident the indictments will be based on telecommunications evidence linking his group to the murder. But he said Israel, whom he blames for Hariri's assassination, has infiltrated Lebanon's mobile telecommunications network and can manipulate phone calls.