UN special envoy for Lebanon to visit Iran: Source

The UN special coordinator for Lebanon is scheduled to visit Iran next week, an informed Iranian Foreign Ministry official says.

In the course of the visit, Derek Plumbly will discuss political developments in Lebanon and the Middle East with Iranian officials, ISNA quoted the official as saying on Saturday.

Earlier, the Lebanese newspaper As-Safir had cited Lebanese diplomats as saying that Plumbly plans to visit Iran on the fifth leg of his tour of Washington, New York, Paris and Riyadh.

The visit comes amid ongoing efforts for election of Lebanon’s new president against the backdrop of purported differences between Iran and Saudi Arabia over the issue, the Lebanese diplomats said.

Lebanese political factions are holding consultations to reach consensus over a candidate for presidency in an attempt to break the deadlock that has left Lebanon with no president for more than three months.