Iran's top security official meets Hezbollah leader, vows support

Ali Larijani, senior advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, delivers a speech in Beirut, Lebanon, on Nov. 15, 2024. (Str/Xinhua)

BEIRUT, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Iran stands ready to support Lebanon at all levels, Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said here Sunday in a meeting with Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem.

"Iran is present in all forms of support for Lebanon and its resistance," Larijani was quoted as saying by Lebanon's official National News Agency.

Thanking Iran for its continued assistance to Lebanon and its resistance, Qassem said Lebanon is resilient in the face of U.S. and Israeli threats.

Hezbollah "remains open to dialogue with all parties and is ready for cooperation with those confronting" Israel, he said.

Larijani arrived at Beirut on Saturday and met with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri later that day, during which the Iranian official backed Hezbollah's call for closer ties with Saudi Arabia and framed regional cooperation as crucial to countering Israel.