Iranian Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili stressed Monday that crisis in Syria not to be settled by weapons or bloodshed.
Iranian Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili stressed Monday that crisis in Syria not to be settled by weapons or bloodshed.
“Iran persistently believes that democracy is the way out of the Syrian crisis not weapons and bloodshed,” he said in a meeting with Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour Monday evening, Iran state-run news agency reported.
"Those who think they can guarantee more security for themselves by sending weapons and terrorists to Syria are making a strategic mistake," Jalili noted, criticizing the move by certain states to create instability in Syria.
"Friends of Syria can help the Syrian nation through full cessation of violence, organizing national dialogue, holding general elections and sending humanitarian aid," he added.
Following his meeting with Speaker Nabih Berri, Jalili that Lebanon has been turned into “a star and an example to be followed in the resistance field at regional and world levels.”
"Among the blessings of this resistance is the Islamic awakening we have seen in the region. We consider this awakening as a very appropriate opportunity for the resistance,” he stated.
“Today, we see that the United States’ allies who kept silent in the past on the treacherous Israeli attacks on Gaza’s residents are no longer in the positions of power,” he added, referring to Egypt’s ousted President Hosni Mubarak.
“As a result of this Islamic awakening, we see that the will of people in this region undermined and destroyed the pillars of these regimes that were either agents of, or subservient to, Israel and America,” Jalili said.
“Today, there is no longer Mubarak or [ousted Tunisian President Zein al-Abiddine] Ben Ali. No doubt, this matter has dealt a severe blow to the Zionist enemy,” the Iranian official stressed.
Jalili also visited the grave of Hezbollah commander martyr Imad Moughniyeh at a cemetery in the Ghobeiri neighborhood, south of Beirut, where he laid a wreath and recited a Quranic verse. Jalili attended an iftar banquet Monday night organized by the Iranian Embassy in Lebanon on the occasion of Jerusalem Day.
On the bilateral front, Iran has offered to provide arms to the Army and build power plants to boost the deteriorating electricity infrastructure in Lebanon.
Jalili, arrived in Lebanon Monday morning for an official visit to discuss major bilateral, regional and international developments with senior Lebanese officials.
He held separate talks as well with President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Najib Mikati.
Jalili left Beirut and went to Damascus Tuesday morning. He is expected to meet Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Syria.
