Iranian President Mohammad Khatami said Tuesday his country was not interested in escalating tension in the Middle East, arguing that would be playing into the hands of Iranâs arch-enemy, Israel. Khatamiâs remarks came amid mounting US pressure on Lebanon and Syria to curb Iranian-backed Hizbullah as part of its post-war plans for the region, and as Iran faces off with Washington over its nuclear program. His visit to Lebanon â the first by an Iranian leader since the 1979 Islamic revolution â Â was expected by analysts to mean added pressure for restraint on Hezbollah.
| Not that they'd ever admit to such a thing. Watch the hands, not the mouth... |
âWe have no desire to take part in escalating tension and shaking stability in the region,â Khatami told tens of thousands of people who packed a football stadium in Beirut, many waving the flags of Iran, Lebanon and Hizbullah. âWe were and still are by Lebanonâs side, as a government and a people. We will respect any decision taken by the leaders of this country,â he said, before arguing that confrontation was in the interest of Israel, whose 22-year occupation of south Lebanon Hizbullah helped end in 2000.
| Meaning that if you cheese them off enough, they could come back. And Hezbollah ain't all that hot... |
âWe know that Israel sees no harm in striving for its historical desires after the American military forces settle into Iraq,â he told the crowd, which had just sung an anthem with the refrain âDeath to Israel.â âWe know well that Israel must not have any opportunity to present a new pretext, making use of and in service of the goals of American military power,â Khatami said. |