TEHRAN, Aug 14: The Syrian government barred a plane carrying Iran’s top security official Ali Larijani from using its airspace enroute to Lebanon this week, forcing the aircraft to reroute over Iraq and Turkey, reports Iran International.
The airspace restriction comes amid Tehran’s strained ties with Damascus, following the ouster of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad late last year. The new interim regime has been highly critical of Iran, calling the role of its military in Syria as being ‘destabilising’ for the country.
Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, arrived in Beirut on Wednesday for meetings with senior Lebanese officials, including President Joseph Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem.
During his meeting the Iranian official, the Lebanese President said that no group may bear arms or rely on foreign backing, warning against interference while affirming openness to cooperation within national sovereignty and mutual respect.
Larijani said that Iran respects Beirut’s decisions and does not seek to interfere in its domestic matters.
During his visit, Larijani reaffirmed Tehran’s backing for Lebanon and its “resistance” against Israel a term he used to refer to Tehran-backed groups such as the Shi’ite group Hezbollah, and offered assistance in reconstruction efforts.
The visit came days after Lebanon’s cabinet instructed the army to present a plan to disarm Hezbollah by the end of August, a move Tehran has publicly opposed.
Lebanon’s foreign ministry last week condemned remarks by a senior Iranian official rejecting the disarmament plan as “unacceptable interference.”
(UNI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
