Eurasia Press & News
TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian ambassador to Beirut Mohammad Reza Sheibani on Wednesday expressed Iran’s support for Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri’s calls for dialogue between Lebanon’s political factions to resolve the country’s political crisis.
Berri issued a new call for dialogue between Lebanon’s rival leaders on April 7 but was swiftly rebuffed by Prime Minister Fuad Siniora.
Lebanon’s political deadlock has left it without a head of state since Emile Lahoud’s term expired on November 23.
Parliamentary sessions to vote for a new president were postponed 17 times as the ruling coalition and the opposition failed to settle their differences.
Both sides have agreed on a consensus presidential candidate but continue to argue over the new cabinet’s make-up.
In a meeting with Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir, Sheibani said Iran is prepared to help resolve Lebanon’s crisis.
“We strongly support negotiation among Lebanese factions, we believe that the best solution to Lebanon’s current political crisis is dialogue between various Lebanese groups,” he told reporters after the meeting, Tehran Times reported.
Lebanon’s president must be a Maronite Christian according to the country’s constitution and is elected by parliament rather than by popular suffrage.
