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Lebanese President Michel Suleiman (left) meeting Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran on Tuesday (Reuters)
Last update - 16:29 25/11/2008
Iran's Khamenei: Lebanon needs unity to 'confront the Zionist regime'
By DPA
Tags: Iran, Israel News 

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday told visiting Lebanese President Michel Suleiman that to stand against Israel, Lebanon needed to maintain unity among various groups.

"Iran believes that the strength of all Lebanese groups lies in national unity for effectively confronting the Zionist regime," the ayatollah said in his meeting with Suleiman.

Suleiman arrived in Tehran on Monday for a two-day state visit. He is the third Lebanese president to visit Tehran since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
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"Iran will always stand beside Lebanon and I hope that the summit in Tehran will lead to expansion of bilateral ties," said the ayatollah, who according to the constitution has the final say on all state matters.

While referring to the Lebanese anti-Israel militia group Hezbollah, Khamenei said the Lebanese resistance succeeded in pushing Israel out of Lebanon's territories in the summer of 2006 and turned the country into a symbol for resistance and courage within the Muslim world.

"The spirit of resistance (against Israel) should first grow in the (Muslims') hearts and then be implemented in practice and be continued," the Ayatollah said.

Iran supports the Lebanese anti-Israel militia group Hezbollah, but has characterized the support as "spiritual" and has denied giving military or financial aid.

Khamenei praised the Lebanese government for hosting Palestinian refugees and predicted that they would be able to return to their homelands.

State television quoted Suleiman as expressing his country's gratitude for Iran's constant support for Lebanon and its aid in developing his country following the 2006 military confrontation with Israel.

Suleiman met on Monday with his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who promised him that Iran would always stand by Lebanon.

"Lebanon has finally found its track after many stormy years and now enjoys tranquillity and security," Ahmadinejad said in his meeting with Suleiman.

Ahmadinejad said Lebanese resistance against Israel had turned Lebanon into a symbol of courage in the region.

Suleiman said he hoped the Tehran-Beirut summit would lead to strengthened bilateral ties.

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      1.   No wonder 14:51  |  Mark Lincoln 25/11/08
      2.   Lebanon needs 15:46  |  Zvi 25/11/08
      3.   "Iran will stand by Lebanon?" 15:51  |  Arie 25/11/08
      4.   In spite of US and Israeli efforts 16:18  |  zaz 25/11/08
      5.   here is the big one : weapons direct to leb gov 16:55  |  no more smuggling 25/11/08
      6.   Mark Lincoln? i am sure eliot abrams and bush team 17:32  |  not happy campers 25/11/08
      7.   Khamenei`s Delusion 17:44  |  Brad 25/11/08
      8.   Unity 18:18  |  Dani 25/11/08
      9.   Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora : 18:23  |  Jean Van Daem 25/11/08
      10.   Yep! We are just waiting to invade right now!!???!! 19:00  |  sharon 25/11/08
      11.   THE BIG QUESTION FOR THE LEBANESE 20:19  |  Ian 25/11/08
      12.   And somewhere Natalie is smiling 20:26  |  Lee 25/11/08
      13.   They`ll keep worrying about Israel... 20:55  |  Israeli 25/11/08
      14.   Spot ON , that s what Lebanon should do 21:52  |  Gisele 25/11/08
      15.   Lebanon is an almost failed state 23:40  |  Jess Ghannam 25/11/08
      16.   Don`t read "beside Lebanon" but "rule Lebanon". 01:44  |  Fortuna Benmayor 26/11/08
      17.   #10 You are kidding, right, sharon? 02:16  |  Johnboy 26/11/08
      18.   Not Happy Campers 04:28  |  Mark Lincoln 26/11/08
      19.   Gisele - an ironic effect of the Second Lebanon War 04:33  |  Mark Lincoln 26/11/08
      20.   A tat paranoid are you not Sharon 04:39  |  Mark Lincoln 26/11/08
      21.   No Jess, you have it quite wrong 04:45  |  Mark Lincoln 26/11/08
      22.   The reality is that this kind of meeting 04:53  |  Mark Lincoln 26/11/08
      23.   GISELE Till Lebanon became a base for attacks on Israel 08:09  |  PETER SM 26/11/08
      24.   JOHNBOY Israel did not INITIATE anything with Lebanon. 08:10  |  PETER SM 26/11/08
      25.   THAT`S THE PROBLEM 15:38  |  Robert 26/11/08
      26.   Iran successfully launches rocket . . . with PhotoShop 02:28  |  SDHD 27/11/08
      27.   Johnboy -- perpetually out to lunch 02:30  |  SDHD 27/11/08
      28.   part of the Pal diaspora 07:24  |  Capt Ahab 27/11/08
      29.   lol...suleiman looks as comfortable as a sheep in a wolf`s den... 08:30  |  eric 27/11/08
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