At the conclusion of his visit to Lebanon and his meetings with officials, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian praised the acumen of Lebanese politicians during a press conference held at the Iranian embassy. He emphasized that Iran will not intervene in Lebanese affairs unless requested to do so by Lebanon. He expressed hope for the timely revelation of the fate of Imam Moussa Sadr, noting that his visit was based on prior arrangements and not related to the visit of U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein.
Abdollahian described the relationship between Tehran and Beirut as "deep, excellent strategic relations," adding, "We closely monitor ongoing developments in Lebanon and will continue our support for the Resistance axis to safeguard national interests against Zionist aggressions." He offered condolences to the family of the late Talal Salman, stating, "We continue our support and assistance to the Resistance axis to maintain the interests of the people in the region and protect them from threats, as the leaders of the Resistance have proven that they work to preserve Lebanon's supreme interest."
He reaffirmed, "Lebanese politicians are wise, and we completely reject any foreign intervention to prevent further complications. Iran has never intervened in Lebanese affairs, but as long as our brother Lebanon seeks our help, we will not delay in supporting Lebanon as a state, its people, its army, and its Resistance."
He said, "The restoration of relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia will have positive effects on Lebanon and the region. A solution must be found for the presidential vacancy. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to meet with a group of Palestinian factions, and I heard from them that Palestinian resistance today is stronger and more prepared than before. They told me that if the Zionist side commits a folly by targeting someone, it can change the equation and deal a blow to the Zionist entity."
Regarding electricity in Lebanon, he remarked, "I addressed this issue because it requires a decision from the Lebanese government, and we have a ready plan to send engineering and technical teams that could contribute to building power plants with a capacity of 2,000 megawatts." Abdollahian noted that the Ansar Allah leaders are the ones making decisions in Yemen, not Iran, and he hopes Yemen emerges from its recent crisis through dialogue.
He criticized contradictory positions regarding the importation of gas from neighboring countries, stating, "If Lebanon had agreed to our proposal ten years ago, it would have met its electricity needs and possibly even exported abroad." He continued, "We have come to the conclusion in this region to refrain from interference in order not to complicate matters. We should integrate and cooperate to protect it."
He said, "During the constructive and beneficial meetings we held in Syria and Lebanon, we discussed the relations between us and Syria and Lebanon. Any decision regarding the Iraqi borders solely belongs to Iraq, and no party can obstruct neighboring countries. Our borders should be based on love, and the Syrian and Iraqi borders should not be a source of contention."
He added, "We must all respect the internal dialogue in Lebanon, and Lebanese leaders have proven that they will not succumb to external pressures. Naturally, bilateral dialogues between Lebanon and Iran have historically yielded positive outcomes for both countries, and external and international players should allow the peoples of the region to make their own decisions. We strongly condemn any violation of the sovereignty of these states, and we welcome the return of the Syrian Arab Republic to the Arab fold to return to its previous state. The aim of the meetings with regional leaders is to open a new chapter in which we, without external channels, are solely responsible for our affairs. We advise understanding the transformations that have occurred in the region."
He continued, "I want to say that Saudi-Iranian relations are moving in the right direction, and diplomats from both countries are active and undertaking their duties. As for Hezbollah's relationship with various parties in the region, that question should be posed to the party itself, and everyone should know the role the Resistance played in eliminating ISIS and protecting the region from terrorism and Israeli aggressions; without this role, the situation would have been different."
He confirmed, "All Iranian companies are ready to cooperate and support Lebanon's reconstruction efforts." Regarding French President Emmanuel Macron's accusation that Iran is obstructing a political solution in Lebanon, Abdollahian said, "I advise President Emmanuel Macron to focus his efforts on internal problems in France instead of interfering in the affairs of other countries."
