TEHRAN - Iran’s ambassador to Beirut has said the election of Lebanon’s next president falls only within the purview of the Lebanese people, dismissing any foreign interference in the country’s domestic affairs.

In an interview with Lebanese daily Al-Joumhouriya, Mohammad Fathali stressed that resolving the 18-month political deadlock in Lebanon, which has created a vacancy for the post of president, is in the hands of the Lebanese political leaders alone.

Any foreign interference, be it positive or negative, will not benefit Lebanon, the ambassador noted.

He also underlined that Iran will never interfere in the internal affairs of Lebanon.

For a year and a half since President Michel Suleiman stepped down after his six-year-term ended, Lebanon has been without a head of state as lawmakers repeatedly failed to agree on a consensus president.

According to the country's power-sharing system, the president must be a Maronite Christian, the prime minister a Sunni Muslim and the parliament speaker a Shia Muslim.

SP/P