Iran Urges Trial of Terrorists behind Attack on Embassy in Beirut


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s foreign ministry on Friday praised the Lebanese government for arresting a terrorist behind the recent deadly attack on the country's embassy in Beirut, and called on Lebanon to bring the perpetrators of the attack to justice as soon as possible.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran hopes the relevant Lebanese authorities would adopt wise measure to hold the terrorist elements accountable for their heinous and inhumane crimes in a fair court and in the shortest possible time," the foreign ministry said in a statement on Friday.

The statement came a few days after the Lebanese army arrested Majed al-Majed, the Saudi commander of Abdullah Azzam Brigades.

Majed’s group had earlier claimed responsibility for deadly twin explosions that hit the Iranian embassy in Beirut on November 19.

The blasts near the Iranian embassy building claimed the lives of more than 2 dozens of people and injured some 150 others. Iranian cultural attaché in Beirut was also among the dead.

The foreign ministry further asked the Lebanese judiciary authorities to shed light on the motives behind the deadly incident, expressing the hope that “financial and political supporters” of the abhorrent crime would also be known to the public.

Earlier on Thursday, Iran’s Envoy to Beirut Ghazanfar Roknabadi voiced Tehran’s willingness for participating in interrogating the Saudi commander of the Abdallah Azzam Brigades.

"Iran officially asked Lebanon to participate in the investigation with Majid al-Majid given that he is the one responsible for the Iranian Embassy bombings,” Roknabadi said.

Lebanon’s Caretaker Foreign Affairs Minister Adnan Mansour has reportedly confirmed Iran’s request.