TEHRAN, November 14 - Ali Akbar Velayati, Senior Advisor to Leader of the Islamic Revolution of Iran Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on International Affairs, rejected accusations made by Lebanese resigned Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Iran’s intervention in Lebanese issues.
TEHRAN, Young Journalists Club (YJC) - He said that the remarks came due to Saudi inculcation.
“Mr. Hariri has claimed that he had called for Iran to avoid interfering in Lebanon’s internal issues during his negotiations with me (in lebabnon). But he never said such thing and our talks have not been harsh and violent at all as they were claimed to be,” Velayati said.
He said that these issues are due to inculcation by Saudi Arabia and those who are not willing to see strategic friendship between Iran and Lebanon.
Velayati said that he and Hariri had only discussed ongoing regional issues.
“Mr. Hariri wanted to mediate between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia and I said that we have no problem with negotiations and we will definitely welcome it.”
Iranian officials have already said that Hariri’s accusations and his surprise resignation came due to Saudi pressures.
On Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said in a press briefing on Monday that Hariri’s Sunday remark that he would return to Lebanon offered “a flicker of hope” that calm would be restored in the Arab country.
Hariri announced his shock resignation in Saudi Arabia and in footage broadcast by a Saudi-owned television on November 2. The announcement is widely seen to have been made under Saudi influence, and Lebanese President Michel Aoun has refused to formally consider Hariri’s resignation, saying he has to return first.
Lebanese government officials also said they believed Hariri was “being held” in Saudi Arabia against his will, and signaled that his resignation had not been voluntary.
Source: Presstv