Iran Embassy Says Hale Remarks 'Blatant Meddling in Affairs of Others'
The Iranian embassy in Beirut on Tuesday responded to remarks voiced by U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale during his visit to Lebanon.
Describing Hale's statements as “blatant meddling in the affairs of others” and an attempt to “dictate decisions,” the embassy said Washington's strategy in Lebanon and the region is “based on creating wars and sowing discord between countries and the components of the same people.”
“Seeing as the U.S. envoy had worked in the past in Lebanon, he certainly knows very well how the Islamic Republic of Iran had stood by Lebanon and its government and people in their endeavor to liberate their land when large parts of it were under Israeli occupation, at a time America was watching the events and supporting the Zionist entity,” the embassy added.
“Keenness on preserving Lebanon's sovereignty, independence, pride and dignity cannot be through overlooking the repeated Israeli threats against Lebanon,” it emphasized.
And noting that Iran will maintain “its constructive role in helping consolidate stability, security and prosperity in Lebanon,” the embassy said Tehran “will spare no effort to cooperate with the Lebanese government, the brave Lebanese Army and the dignified resistance.”
Turning to Hale's remarks on Syria, the embassy said Iran's “advisory military presence in Syria does not need a permission from anyone, seeing as it initially came at the request of the legitimate Syrian government and in full coordination and cooperation between the two countries.”
Hale on Monday reiterated that "through diplomacy and cooperation” with its partners, the United States “will expel from Syria every last Iranian boot.”
Source: Naharnet
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