IRAN-POLITICS/LEBANON Iranian FM Zarif arrives in Lebanon for visit

Record ID: 143841

  • Title: IRAN-POLITICS/LEBANON Iranian FM Zarif arrives in Lebanon for visit
  • Date: 12th August 2015
  • Summary: BEIRUT, LEBANON (AUGUST 11, 2015) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MOHAMMAD JAVAD ZARIF AND DELEGATION ENTERING VIP LOUNGE AT BEIRUT AIRPORT (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, MOHAMMAD JAVAD ZARIF, SAYING: "(It is necessary to) confront the challenges of the region, the most important of which is the Zionist and extremi
  • Embargoed: 27th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Lebanon
  • Country: Lebanon
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA81NALHCMDOWLD2BDLUS4YJ0M2
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif arrived on an official visit to the Lebanese capital Beirut on Tuesday (August 11) to discuss bilateral and regional issues, including a 'new plan' on how to resolve the crisis in neighbouring Syria, according to an Iranian foreign ministry spokeswoman.
    Details of the plan will be revealed after discussions with the Syrian government and 'other players,' Marzieh Afkham, an Iranian foreign ministry spokeswoman, said in an interview with the Islamic Republic News Agency.
    Zarif will be travelling to Damascus after wrapping up his visit to Lebanon on Wednesday (August 12), IRNA reported.
    The conflict in Syria has spilled over its borders into Lebanon on multiple occasions since 2011 and has exacerbated existing political tensions within the small country.
    Shortly after arriving in Beirut, Zarif warned that Israel played a 'dangerous game' with the Iranian nuclear file which has been defeated.
    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said that the deal that Iran hammered out with world powers regarding its nuclear program is going to lead to regional instability and conflict.
    Zarif said it was necessary to 'confront the challenges of the region, the most important of which is the Zionist and extremist regime'.
    Zarif met the Lebanese prime minister on Tuesday evening and is also expected to meet the speaker of parliament and foreign minister, according to Iranian media reports. On his previous trip to Lebanon last year, Zarif also met with Seyed Hassan Nasrallah, the head of Hezbollah, the most powerful military force in the country which is also a key political player.
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