Iran's Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi and his visiting Lebanese counterpart Fayez Ghusn held talks Sunday on defense cooperation, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported.

During the meeting, Vahidi said that one of Iran's strategic policies is to strengthen the Lebanese army, said the report.

Lebanon should have a strong army to defend its interests in the region and Lebanon should be protected against the threats, Vahidi was quoted as saying.

Iran believes that stability and security in Lebanon and the region are intertwined, he said, adding that Iran's principled policy is to promote the convergence of regional countries and enhance security and stability in the region.

Ghusn's visit to Iran provided a good opportunity for the expansion of cooperation between the two countries in the area of defense, he said.

Lebanese defense minister thanked the Islamic republic for the stance it has adopted towards Lebanon and thanked Iran's offer to strengthen his country's army. He also expressed hope that cooperation between the two countries would increase.

Ghusn is scheduled to meet with a number of high-ranking Iranian officials and discuss various issues including Tehran- Beirut ties during his stay in Iran.

In October 2011, Iran's ambassador to Lebanon Ghazanfar Roknabadi said Tehran was ready to equip the Lebanese army and expand bilateral defense cooperation without setting any preconditions.

Speaking at a meeting with Ghusn in Lebanon's capital Beirut, Roknabadi said that developing stronger defense cooperation between the two sides was necessary given the daily violations of Lebanese airspace by the Israeli fighter jets.

Iranian defense minister has reiterated that the Islamic republic is fully prepared to provide Lebanese army with cutting- edge military equipment if it receives any request from Lebanon for equipping its army.