TEHRAN - Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri arrived in Tehran on Saturday and was officially welcomed by First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Rahimi.

Seven ministers are accompanying Saad Hariri in his first official visit to Iran.
Shortly after his arrival, Hariri held a meeting with Rahimi in which he called for increased economic and political ties with Iran.
Prime Minister Hariri described the Tehran-Beirut ties as “deeply-rooted”.
Rahimi also noted that the Islamic Republic is determined to increase its relations with Lebanon, particularly in the spheres of trade and economy.
Hariri is scheduled to hold talks with a number of senior Iranian officials including President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
On the eve of his first visit to Tehran, Hariri told IRNA, “The Islamic Republic of Iran has a natural role in the region, especially in resolving crisis and strengthening stability in Lebanon.”
The trip comes a little more than a month after President Ahmadinejad made a visit to Lebanon, where he was given a hero’s welcome.
Earlier, Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon Ghazanfar Roknabadi had told the Mehr News Agency that Hariri’s visit will mark a turning point in relations between Iran and Lebanon.
He also predicted that several agreements would be signed between the two countries during Hariri’s visit.
Photo: Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri (L) shakes hands with Iranian First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Rahimi (R) at Tehran's Saadabad Palace on November 27, 2010.