Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Monday that his country was ready to help restore sustainable peace in the Mideast region, the Fars news agency reported.

Ahmadinejad made the remarks in a phone conversation with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the presidential press office said in a statement.

According to the statement, in the phone conversation initiated by Annan, the two discussed the latest developments in the Mideast region, UN Security Council Resolution 1701 on the Lebanon crisis and ways to achieve a ceasefire on the Lebanese soil.

Ahmadinejad and Annan also stressed the need to establish stability, sustainable and fair peace and security in the Middle East, saying that Israel must withdraw from the occupied territories.

In addition, Ahmadinejad expressed Iran's deep concern about Israel's continued strikes on the Palestinians, saying "Israel is aimed at exerting pressure on the popular and democratically- elected government of Hamas."

On Friday, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 1701, calling for Israel's withdrawal and authorizing an increase of the existing UN force in Lebanon to 15,000 troops to help Lebanese government troops take control of south Lebanon as Israel withdraws.

The resolution came after a month of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas. More than 1,100 Lebanese have been killed, mostly in Israeli air strikes, while over 100 Israelis have been killed in Hezbollah attacks.

The UN-brokered ceasefire took effect at 8:00 a.m. (0500 GMT) on Monday following approval of both Israel and Hezbollah.

Source: Xinhua