IRNA – Iran’s ambassador in Beirut Mohammad-Jalal Firouznia and Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri in a meeting on Tuesday discussed issues of mutual interest.


During the meeting, the two sides also reviewed regional issues and ways to promote bilateral relations.

Earlier in the day, the Iranian embassy in Beirut issued a statement reacting to remarks by US Undersecretary of State David Hale on Sunday after a meeting with Hariri.

Hale blamed Iran of providing support for what he called terrorist groups. He put Lebanon’s Hezbollah in the list of terrorist groups.

Noting that Hale’s claims are indicative of the defeat of US policies, the statement said that the US official has forgotten that its country is the main safe haven for and the major sponsor of extremist terrorist groups including Daesh.

The statement also reacted to Hale’s claims that the US would put an end to Iran’s military presence in Syria, saying Iran’s military advisory presence in Syria does not require the permission of anyone as Iran’s presence is upon the request of Syria’s legal government and with cooperation and coordination between the two countries.