BEIRUT, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Eliot Engel, congressman and chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, has reiterated the U.S. commitment to preserving Lebanon's security, stability, and prosperity, a statement issued by the American Embassy in Lebanon said on Sunday.

Engel led a congressional delegation to Lebanon on May 24-26.

During the visit, the delegation met with Lebanese President Michel Aoun, House Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces Joseph Aoun, and other officials.

Engel held positive and constructive discussions with Lebanese officials based on the depth of the relations between the Lebanese and U.S. people, according to the statement.

Engel's visit comes amid rising tension between Iran and its proxies in the region including the Lebanese Hezbollah party, and the United States.

Tensions between the two countries flared up in recent months, following U.S. decisions to designate Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) a "foreign terrorist organization" and to re-impose sanctions on Iran.

In response to the U.S. moves, the Iranian parliament also passed a bill blacklisting the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces in West Asia as a "terrorist group," pledging to fight back any provocation by Washington. Enditem

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