Mottaki Congratulates Lebanese on Great Victory

Source: Al-Manar TV, 17-7-2008
Iran said Thursday that "Israel's" release of Lebanese detainees in a swap was an achievement for both Hizbullah and the Lebanese people, the state news agency IRNA reported.
"News of the release of Lebanese detainees by the Zionist entity is part of Hizbullah's achievement and the Lebanese people's resistance. We congratulate them on this great victory," Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki was quoted as saying.
"The Zionist entity should give up its stubbornness and free all Palestinians and the Islamic republic's diplomats and surrender itself to the truth," Mottaki also said.
He was referring to four Iranians, seized in 1982 by a Christian militia in Lebanon, which Tehran insists are still alive and being held in "Israel"."Israel" at the time was carrying out a major military operation in Lebanon when three diplomats -- Mohsen Mousavi, Ahmad Motevaselian and Taghi Rastegar Moghadam -- disappeared, along with Kazem Akhaven, a photographer with the IRNA news agency.