Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad supported Riyadh's efforts to resolve the political crisis in Lebanon and agreed with Saudi King Abdullah to counter efforts to fuel Sunni-Shiite strife, the Saudi media said Sunday.
Ahmadinejad said he concurred with Abdullah during talks on Saturday that Iran and the kingdom would work together to thwart "enemy" plots seeking to divide the Islamic world. According to the Saudi SPA news agency, Ahmadinejad endorsed Riyadh's efforts to resolve the political crisis in Lebanon.
It said the two leaders stressed the need to preserve Iraq's national unity and ensure equality between its citizens.
The agreement to prevent sectarian strife was reported after Ahmadinejad ended a brief visit to Riyadh.
"The two leaders affirmed that the greatest danger presently threatening the Islamic nation is the attempt to fuel the fire of strife between Sunni and Shiite Muslims, and that efforts must concentrate on countering these attempts and closing ranks," SPA said.
Ahmadinejad told reporters after returning to Tehran that he discussed with Abdullah "the plots carried out by the enemies in order to divide the world of Islam." "Fortunately we and the Saudis were fully aware of the threats of our enemies and we condemned them," he said, according to AFP.
The Lebanese administration has been crippled by an opposition ministerial walkout and an open-ended protest spearheaded by Hizbullah.
But Riyadh and Tehran recently began working together to reduce tensions in Lebanon, and according to the Saudi account of the talks, Ahmadinejad stated that Iran "assists the kingdom's efforts to calm the situation in Lebanon and end its political crisis."
He and Abdullah expressed the hope that "all Lebanese sides will respond (positively) to these efforts," SPA said.
On his part, a prominent Lebanese opposition leader said a deal to end the country's political crisis could emerge "within 48 hours", a newspaper reported on Sunday. Asharq Al-Awsat quoted Nabih Berri, who is also speaker of parliament, as saying the chances of a solution were greater now than at any other point in the crisis.
Asharq Al-Awsat quoted Berri as expressing more optimism on a deal. He said "the chances of success this time are greater than at any previous time". Berri said a settlement "might appear within 48 hours".
The London-based newspaper said the settlement would include a deal on a unity government as well as agreement on an international tribunal to try suspects in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.
