Tehran: Lebanese Prime Minister Sa'ad Hariri met Iran's defence minister on Sunday, stressing that unity between Arab states and Iran against common threats was of "great importance".
Lebanon would continue its "resistance" to Israel, Sa'ad also said, on a three-day visit to the Islamic Republic a month after Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made the first ever official visit to Lebanon by an Iranian president.
Sa'ad's visit is partly to seek Iran's help to prevent political tensions turning violent if a UN-backed tribunal indicts members of Iran-and-Syria-supported Hezbollah for killing his father.
"The stability, security and unity of Lebanon play a key role in resolving internal and regional issues. Based on that, I was willing to come to Iran and see your defensive military achievements although it was against the opinion of our enemies," Sa'ad told reporters, according to state broadcaster Irib's website.
"Lebanon has resisted the Zionist regime until now and will continue the resistance," he said on the sidelines of his visit to a military exhibition.
"Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Iran have always been surrounded by danger. Therefore, unity between the Arabs and Iran is a matter of great importance."
Western diplomats have said that the tribunal could indict members of Hezbollah by early next year for the 2005 bombing which killed former premier Rafik Hariri and 21 others.
Lebanese politicians fear the indictments could prompt confrontation and possible violence between the Shiite Hezbollah, which has denied any involvement in Hariri's killing, and allies of the Sunni prime minister.
Iranian Defence Minister Ahamad Vahidi gave Hariri a domestically-manufactured Tondar (Thunder) machinegun as a gift and said: "We have stated on several occasions, and we say it again today, that we stand alongside the Lebanese army and are prepared to cooperate" with it.
Sa'ad was to meet Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad later in the evening and the two countries are expected to focus on mutual coooperation.
