TEHRAN, July 9: Irans president-elect Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday reaffirmed the Islamic republics support for Lebanons Hezbollah group and condemned Israels actions against Palestinians.
The statement, issued to Hezbollahs chief Hassan Nasrallah on the IRNA official news agency, was one of the first foreign policy comments from Pezeshkian since his victory in Fridays presidential election runoff.
Tehran provides financial and military support to Hezbollah, which was created at the initiative of Irans Revolutionary Guards after arch-foe Israel overran Beirut in 1982 during Lebanons civil war.
In a reference to Hezbollah and allied groups, Pezeshkian said: "The support of the resistance is rooted in the fundamental policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran."
He said he was confident the "resistance movement" would stop its arch-foe Israels "warmongering and criminal policies" in Gaza, where Israel has for nine months been at war with Hezbollahs Palestinian ally, Hamas.
Since the war in Gaza began, Hezbollah and Israel have exchanged near-daily fire over Lebanons border, triggering global alarm about the potential for all-out war as fighting escalates.
Earlier Monday, Irans foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said Tehran "will not hesitate to support the Lebanese nation" and Israel "must be aware of the consequences of any adventurous action in the region, especially towards Lebanon." —AFP
