TEHRAN – The Lebanese Hezbollah leader has thanked Iran for its support, which “have led to victories in various fields.”

Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah made the comments in a meeting with the visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Monday night, stressing Iran’s role in Lebanon’s ability to withstand the offensive approaches of the Israeli regime as well as that of terrorist groups.

He expressed hope that despite foreign pressure, Iran continues to support the Hezbollah resistance movement.

Zarif, for his part, underlined Iran’s unchanging policy to support the Lebanese nation and government as well as the resistance movement.

On the same day, Zarif attended a joint press conference with Lebanese Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Minister Gebran Bassil in Beirut.

Zarif said all countries must facilitate the peace process in Syria and refrain from making decisions on its fate, stressing that foreign troops need to end their unauthorized presence in the country.

“All the forces entering Syria without the permission of the official leadership must exit,” Zarif said.

He added that Iran is making efforts to help find a political solution to the crisis in Syria, emphasizing that any solution must protect the country’s territorial integrity.

Elsewhere in the presser, Zarif expressed confidence that the new Lebanese government would resolve the political crisis in the country.

“We will always support the [Lebanese] people and extend a helping hand in every way possible, and we are ready to respond to the Lebanese government’s request to cooperate with it in any vital area it deems appropriate,” Iran’s top diplomat said.

Late last month, Lebanon’s president announced the formation of the new national unity government, putting an end to a nine-month stalemate on the political stage, which fueled the country’s economic woes.

The new government, headed by Prime Minister Saad Hariri, includes 30 ministers from most Lebanese political factions, which have been in talks after the country held its first parliamentary elections in nine years in May 2018.

Speaking to reporters in the Lebanese capital on Sunday, shortly after his arrival for the two-day official visit, Zarif said Tehran is ready to cooperate with the new Lebanese government in all sectors.

“If the Lebanese government demands, Iran is ready to cooperate with this country in all fields,” he said.

During Monday’s presser, the Iranian foreign minister hailed the Lebanese government’s stance on an anti-Iran conference due to be held by the U.S. in the Polish capital city of Warsaw on February 13-14.

The United States initially put much effort into making the Warsaw meeting an anti-Iran platform, but had to back away from many of its suppositions about the meeting, because it was snubbed by most world officials.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Iranian foreign minister stressed the importance of developing economic ties with Lebanon, saying, “There is no international law that prevents Iran and Lebanon from cooperating. Even (the United Nations Security Council) Resolution 2231 requires all countries to normalize their economic relations with Iran.”

Resolution 2231 enshrines the international nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), from which Washington withdrew in May under the pretext, among others, that it should have included Iran’s missile program as well.

Under the deal, reached between Iran and six world powers -- the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China plus Germany, Tehran agreed to put limits on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related sanctions.

‘Safe return of Syrian refugees’

The Lebanese foreign minister, for his part, stressed the importance of finding a swift political solution to the Syria crisis and facilitating a safe return for Syrian refugees to their homeland.

“We support the formation of a Syrian constitution and all efforts aimed at facilitating a safe return of Syrian refugees to their homeland,” Bassil said, highlighting Iran’s support to help ensure their speedy and safe return.

“The Syrian state has a significant contribution that it can encourage the return of refugees through guarantees on individual property rights and military service,” he added.

The top Lebanese diplomat also said that his country would not partake in the upcoming Warsaw conference due to Israel’s presence.

“We explained why we will not be present at the Warsaw conference… Israel will be present and because of the orientation the conference is expected to take,” Bassil said.

He welcomed the establishment of economic ties between Tehran and Beirut “if there are frameworks that could protect Lebanon.”

Earlier on Monday, Zarif met and conferred with the Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

During the meeting, Iran’s foreign minister congratulated Lebanon’s top parliamentarian on the formation of new government in the country, saying that Tehran is ready to expand its relations with Beirut in all fields.

He added that development of Tehran-Beirut relations was in favor of both nations, emphasizing that Iran’s relations with Lebanon were not aimed at harming any third country.

Zarif also highlighted economic and trade relations as major areas in which the two countries enjoyed enormous potential for cooperation.

For his part, the speaker of the Lebanese parliament congratulated Zarif on the 40th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, expressing hope that relations between the two countries will expand in all areas.

Berri and Zarif also discussed the latest developments in Syria, noting that improvement in the country’s security condition has been a very important and positive step.