Iranian, French FMs meet over Mideast crisis in Beirut

Visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki met late Monday with his French counterpart Philippe Douste-Blazy, who was here to seek a diplomatic solution to an Israeli offensive in Lebanon, according to Lebanese officials.

The meeting, held at the Iranian Embassy in the Lebanese capital, lasted for more than two hours. Neither minister made any comment after the meeting.

Mottaki earlier visited Syria and is expected to meet with senior Lebanese officials on Tuesday.

On July 12, Israel launched attacks on Lebanese Hezbollah after the Shiite group abducted two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid.

Israel accuses Iran and Syria of being behind Hezbollah, but Iran and Syria reject the accusation.

Source: Xinhua