third country Tehran, Jan 30, IRNA -- Iran's Minister of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani said in Tehran on Sunday that the current defense cooperation between Iran and Lebanon is not against the interests of a third country.

Shamkhani made the remarks on the sidelines of the visit of his Lebanese counterpart Abdul Rahim Murad to Tehran.

Speaking to reporters, he said the ongoing negotiations between Iran and Lebanon are aimed at fostering friendly ties between the two countries.

Lebanese Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Murad heading a military delegation arrived here Sunday at the invitation of his Iranian counterpart.

Referring to his negotiations with his Lebanese counterpart, he said the Lebanese delegation also underlined the fact that the US seeks to benefit from the potentials of regional countries to implement its own plan dubbed as "Great Middle East". This proves that Tehran and Beirut enjoy common views on existing threats in the region, he added.

A memorandum of understating (MoU) is to be signed by the two countries to further broaden defense cooperation and boost trade between Iran and Lebanon, he said.

The Iranian defense minister paid a two-day official visit to Lebanon last year to review expansion of defense cooperation, activate scientific and industrial potentials in security affairs as well as the latest developments in the region.

On US presence in the region, he said the massive turnout of Iraqi people in the ongoing elections would lead to their sovereignty.

He expressed the hope that the current elections in Iraq would lead to establishment of a democratic government which would prepare the grounds for withdrawal of occupation troops from that country.

On military might of Iran before and after triumph of the Islamic Revolution, he said before the revolution Iran had a dependent defense industry but today the country is independent and can meet its own military needs.