Iran: Boosting Lebanese army part of our Mideast strategy

JPost.com -- Iranian Defense Minister Vahidi tells Lebanese counterpart: "Lebanon must have strong army to defend regional interests"; Lebanese defense minister in Iran to bolster ties between two nations.

Strengthening the Lebanese military is a key Iranian strategic and regional policy, Iranian Defense Minister Brig.-Gen. Ahmad Vahidi told his Lebanese counterpart Faiz Ghosn, who was in Tehran Sunday in order to strengthen relations between the two nations.

“Lebanon must have a strong army to defend its interests in the region,” Lebanese Hezbollah-affiliate Al Manar quoted the Iranian defense minister as saying Sunday during a meeting with Ghosn in the Iranian capital.

Vahidi said the viability of both the Lebanese army and the "resistance movement" - a reference to Lebanese Hezbollah - would improve security and stability in the Middle East, according to the report.

Israel has accused Iran of funding Hezbollah with advanced weapons and weapons technology to bolster the terrorist group's deterrence capabilities against the IDF. Iran denies the claims, but has voiced support for the terrorist group in its resistance to Israel.

Iran may be seeking to improve its standing in the region as its chief regional ally, Syria, is facing an ongoing conflict with an opposition that has become more militant.

The Lebanese defense minister expressed hope that Lebanon and Iran would continue and build on an already longstanding cooperation.

He said he appreciated Iran's support of Lebanon during the Second Lebanon War in 2006, which was fought primarily between Hezbollah's paramilitary forces and the IDF.

Ghosn said that were Israel to attempt any "stupidity in attacking Lebanon," it would encounter strong resistance from both the Lebanese army and Hezbollah.

The Lebanese defense minister also met with Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in his visit to Iran.