TEHRAN (IRNA) -- Expediency Council Chairman Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said here Wednesday that the Iranian nation, as part of the great Islamic ummah, was determined to strengthen convergence and cooperation among all Islamic states.

Rafsanjani's remarks came during a meeting with the leader of the Lebanese Islamic Action Front Amal Fathi Yakan.

Pointing to the commonalties enjoyed by Islamic religious sects, he stressed the importance of avoiding minor differences.

He said Iran's aid to refugees of Kosovo and Palestine was an example of Islamic humanitarian values and urged Muslims to avoid extremist religious differences and exert efforts to uphold the dignity of Islam.

The EC chairman praised the resistance displayed by all Lebanese group to topple the conspiracies of enemies, saying the cooperation of the Islamist Action Front Amal, which is a Sunni resistance group, with Hezbollah has neutralized several plots aimed at sowing discord among Muslims.

Yakan, for his part, presented a report on latest developments in Lebanon, and urged all Islamic sects to work to preserve the greatness of Islam.