TEHRAN – Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan’ani on Monday warned that any aggression against Lebanon will lead to escalation of tension and unrest in the region.
“Adventurous actions of the Zionists can affect the region and the world. Lebanon is powerful enough to defend its security. Iran considers supporting Lebanon a principle and will not hesitate to do this at the right time,” Kan’ani said.
The spokesman said the world has a responsibility to respond decisively to the adventurous actions of the regime.
“The nation, the government, the army, and the resistance front in Lebanon are determined to defend the country,” he said, adding the resistance fighters will defend Lebanon more than ever.
 The spokesman hailed the snap presidential election in two rounds in Iran that propelled veteran lawmaker Masoud Pezeshkian to presidency.  
“Holding two rounds of elections by the Iranian government within a week and 50 days after the martyrdom of President Ebrahim Raisi, coupled with people’s participation, is a sign of the depth and the institutionalization of religious democracy in the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he said. 
Kan’ani said Iran under the late president has gained significant achievements in its policy of good neighborliness and multilateralism.
He pointed to the promotion of cultural, trade and political relations with neighboring countries, resumption of ties with some regional states with which the country’s ties had been severed, and Iran’s effective role in strengthening regional and extra-regional cooperation within the framework of establishment of security and stability as important examples of those achievements.
The spokesman said the Raisi administration’s efforts to have Iran join the BRICS bloc of the emerging economies and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization during the past three years enabled the Islamic Republic to fulfill its potential.
The Iranian government, he said, could make use of the capacities of the international bodies to deal with important international questions and become an effective member of the Eurasian Economic Union to achieve great economic interests.
The spokesman lashed out at the Canadian government for not allowing the Iranian expatriates to vote in the July 5 runoff presidential election despite its claims to human rights, ,saying it violated the Iranian society’s civil rights. 
“The world’s public opinion will judge about Canada’s anti-human rights measure,” he added.
Nevertheless, Kan’ani said, Iran set up several polling stations near the Canadian borders to collect the votes of the Iranian expatriates.  
*It is regrettable that this country, which claims to defend the right to

 citizenship, deprives many Iranians from exercising their citizenship rights.”
The spokesman said Iran will pursue closer relations with China, one of the most important countries in the world. 
He also said indirect negotiations have been conducted between Tehran and Washington, with details to be disclosed “at an appropriate time”.
“Our diplomatic channels have held indirect talks through various means. We are using all our diplomatic capacity to protect the rights of the Iranian nation. We will announce the details at the appropriate time,” he said.