The visiting Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri met the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei on Sunday, June 19.
Speaking at the meeting, the Leader stated that Lebanon's power and security is contingent on the Lebanese nation's unity, national solidarity and resistance.
"The Lebanese people, thanks to their resistance and valor, managed to repel Western military forces, particularly U.S. troops, and also the forces of the Zionist regime out of their country, something which major Arab governments had not been able to do," he told the visiting Lebanese official.
Ayatollah Khamenei stressed that the U.S. is exerting pressure on Lebanon and Syria in order to promote the interests of the Zionist regime.
"The United States is trying to sap the power of popular Islamic resistance in Lebanon. But surely U.S. policies toward Lebanon and Syria are doomed to failure," Ayatollah Khamenei observed.
Further in his statements, the Leader of the Islamic Republic referred to Nabih Berri's prudent management of the Lebanese Parliament and also to the wise and courageous move made by the Lebanese Parliament to extend the term of office of the Lebanese President Emile Lahoud.
"The Lebanese President has been censured and reproved by the United States only because of his support for the Islamic resistance of Lebanon. However, by extending his term of office as president, the Lebanese Parliament gave the U.S. a hard slap in the face," the Leader remarked.
Ayatollah Khamenei stated that despite its efforts to carry the 'Greater Middle East' plan into effect, the United States has failed to achieve its objectives in the region, especially in Iraq, Afghanistan and occupied Palestine, and that an unprecedented wave of hatred for the United States has swept the region.
"With regard to the events in Iran also American officials have displayed their lack of wisdom. One day before the Election Day in Iran, the U.S. president issued a statement in which he urged the Iranian nation to boycott the presidential election. However, the Iranian people did just the opposite and through their 30 million-strong presence at the polls gave a proper response to the U.S. president's foolish action," Ayatollah Khamenei further noted.
The Leader pointed out that some American politicians and even some U.S. media criticized their president for his action. "Such actions indicate that those who currently rule the United States, despite all their clamor and outcry, are just a feeble-minded clique," he remarked.
The Lebanese Parliament Speaker, for his part, expressed his felicitations over the Iranian people's massive participation in the 9th presidential election. He also briefed the Leader of the Islamic Republic on the latest situation and developments in Lebanon.
Referring to the rising pressure on his country and Syria, Nabih Berri stated that certain Western countries, including the United States, are using the extension of President Emile Lahoud's term of office as a pretext for exerting pressure on Lebanon in order to prepare the ground for disarming the Hezbollah resistance group and ensure the Zionist regime's security and interests.
The Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament further touched on the recent election in South Lebanon and said that the election turned into a referendum in support of the Islamic resistance.
In conclusion, Nabih Berri told the Leader that the Lebanese people, despite all the pressures, are determined to continue the path of resistance.