BEIRUT, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji said on Wednesday he had declined an invitation from his Iranian counterpart to visit Iran, suggesting instead that the meeting take place in a "neutral third country."

Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi extended the invitation last week, seeking talks on bilateral ties.

In a written response to Araghchi, Rajji said that declining the invitation "does not signify a refusal to engage in dialogue; rather, the appropriate atmosphere for such a visit is not currently available," according to the Lebanese National News Agency.

Rajji reiterated his invitation for Araghchi to hold a meeting in a mutually agreed-upon neutral third country. He expressed Lebanon's "full readiness to establish a new phase of constructive relations between Lebanon and Iran, provided they are based exclusively on mutual respect for the independence and sovereignty of each state, and on non-interference in internal affairs in any form and under any pretext."

The minister stressed his "firm conviction that building a strong state is not possible unless the state alone, through its national army, holds the exclusive right to bear arms and retains exclusive authority over decisions of war and peace."

Rajji also said that the Iranian minister "will always be welcome to visit Lebanon."

While Lebanon and Iran maintain diplomatic relations, their ties have frequently been strained due to regional factors. Lebanon's political leadership has consistently stressed the need for non-interference, expressing concerns about Iran's support for Hezbollah. ■