Secretary of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Saeed Jalili discussed with President Michel Sleiman issues of mutual interest, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

During the meeting on Monday evening, Jalili expressed his satisfaction with the positive trend toward national unity in Lebanon, which he called a victory over “the Zionist enemy and thwarting domestic plots”, the IRNA reported.

The agency said that Jalili also expressed Iran's readiness to cooperate and for an information exchange to occur with Lebanon in different areas.

He said Lebanon offered a good example of resistance and coexistence between different religions and ethnic groups. He added that such a valuable example should become a global model, the IRNA reported.

The agency said that President Sleiman appreciated Iran's insistence on supporting Lebanon and that he called for the continuation of help for the country.

Sleiman said Iran played an "important and constructive" role in the talks in Doha in May, which ended a period of deadly sectarian violence in Lebanon’s capital. The IRNA said the talks led to an end of disputes in Lebanon, the election of a president and the beginning of a process of national dialogue.

The IRNA report concluded that Sleiman emphasized the necessity of expanding cooperation between Tehran and Beirut and following up agreements signed between the two countries.

-NOW Staff