Iran said Sunday that the pressures imposed on Syria to withdraw its troops from Lebanon was a result of the Israeli maneuvers, terming its as a "scheme", the official IRNA news agency reported.

"The withdrawal was an issue between the two countries according to a previous agreement, and decisions made by the two countries of Lebanon and Syria will be respected by Iran," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi was quoted as saying.

"The important point here is that the pressure being exerted on the Syrian government on the issue is according to a pre-planned scheme by the Zionist lobbies to guarantee the survival of the expansionist policies of Israel," Asefi said.

Asefi further noted that the scheme was aimed at giving Israel more opportunities to be present in the region and thus exert more pressures on Lebanon, stressing that the Lebanese issue was a topic going beyond the withdrawal of Syrian forces.

"The issue of unity and solidarity among the Lebanese people and groups is quite significant for Iran, and it is the responsibility of all of the Lebanese people to be aware of the sensitive atmosphere prevailing in their country and be vigilant not to risk their unity and solidarity," Asefi said.

After the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri on Feb. 14, Syria has been under mounting international pressures to withdraw its troops deployed in Lebanon after civil war erupted in 1975 in the country.

Lebanon's opposition accused Syria of involvement in the case, which Damascus denied vehemently.

Syrian President Bashar Assad on Saturday announced that partial troops would be pulled out from Lebanon. Enditem