Iran Sees Israeli Hand In U.N. Security Council's Lebanon Resolution

TEHRAN, Sept 5 (AFP) - Iran on Sunday condemned the UN Security Council's resolution condemning outside interference in Lebanese politics, saying it saw an Israeli hand in the text.

"Whenever Israel is faced with internal tensions, it transfers the tensions outside its borders and threatens different countries such as Syria," foreign ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told reporters.

"America has to first pressure Israel to pull its forces out of Lebanon," he added.

The Security Council late Thursday passed a resolution backing Lebanon's sovereignty as Syria, which dominates is smaller neighbour, pressured Beirut MPs to amend the constitution to allow pro-Damascus President Emile Lahoud to stay in power for another three years.

Both Beirut and Damascus blasted the council's resolution -- adopted by the bare minimum with nine votes in favor and six abstentions -- as unacceptable interference in Lebanon's internal affairs.

Iran is a close ally of Syria.