Pezeshkian lauds Lebanese unity as army chief assumes presidency
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed confidence that the unity of the Lebanese and solidification of their resilience would counter the aggressive ambitions of Israel towards the country’s territory as he felicitated Joseph Aoun on his election as Lebanon’s new president.
“Strengthening resilience and unity will doubtless thwart the Zionist enemy’s avarice towards the Lebanese territory,” Pezeshkian wrote in his congratulatory message on Friday, a day after Aoun secured the majority of votes in the Lebanese parliament.
The Iranian president voiced Tehran’s readiness to further enhance cooperation in “all fields” with Beirut, president.ir reported.
“The government of the Islamic Republic of Iran expresses its readiness to further enhance bilateral cooperation in all fields during your presidency,” he said.
The Iranian president also hoped that the election will bring “political stability, continuous economic growth, and peace and comfort to the dear people of Lebanon.”
Aoun secured 99 votes from the 128-seat parliament to win the presidency in a second round of voting on Thursday afternoon.
“A new phase in the history of Lebanon begins today,” sixty-year-old Aoun told the chamber after he was sworn in.
Aoun’s victory, which saw members of parliament erupting in celebration as he reached the required threshold of 86 votes, came on the legislature’s 13th attempt to find a successor for Michel Aoun – not related – whose term ended in October 2022.
On Thursday, the Iranian Embassy in Lebanon congratulated the Lebanese nation and Aoun on election results, hoping for strengthened relations between the two states that would “serve the mutual interests of our two countries and promote stability and prosperity in the region.”
Following his election, Aoun who had served as the 14th commander of the Lebanese armed forces since 2017, formally stepped down from his military role. He entered the parliament to take the oath of office as he was dressed in civilian attire.
Aoun will need to oversee the implementation of a cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon and forming a new cabinet capable of addressing post-war reconstruction.