BEIRUT, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian Embassy in Lebanon on Tuesday blasted the U.S. intervention in the affairs of Lebanon and the region, the National News Agency reported.
"U.S. Under Secretary for Political Affairs David Hale expressed a series of positions that can be considered as direct intervention in others' businesses," the embassy said in a statement following Hale's visit to Lebanon.
After his meeting with Lebanese officials, Hale said that his country was going on with its efforts to counter Iran's dangerous activities in the region, including the financing of Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Hale said that Lebanon has the right to defend itself through its legal institutions. "It is not acceptable to have a militia outside the control of the government," he said, hinting at Hezbollah.
Meanwhile, Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Mohammad Jalal Firouznia criticized U.S. role in the region during his meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri on Tuesday.
"The United States wants to promote itself as a country that cares about this region and its people... This is obviously not true given the American support for Israel's daily violations," Firouznia said.
