Tehran: Iran's defence minister says it is
Tehran's strategic policy to strengthen the Lebanese army.
The comments by Gen. Ahmad Vahidi to his visiting
Lebanese counterpart, Fayez Ghosn, were posted on the Iranian
defense ministry's website on Monday.
Iran is a key supporter of the Lebanese group Hezbollah.
Tehran denies arming the Shia militant movement, but is
believed to funnel it weapons and millions of dollars in
funding.
Ghosn is a member of Marada, a Christian party allied
with Hezbollah. Both groups are close to Syria's embattled
President Bashar Assad, who is traditionally a major
power-broker in Lebanon but faces an uprising against his
rule.
Tehran may be trying to strengthen its independent ties
in Lebanon if Assad falls.
Bureau Report
First Published: Sunday, February 26, 2012, 20:20