BEIRUT - The U.S. official mediating a maritime border dispute between Lebanon and Israel said on Monday he remained optimistic about making progress towards a deal and looked forward to returning to the region to make a "final arrangement".

Amos Hochstein made the comments after a meeting with Lebanon's president, prime minister-designate and parliament speaker at the presidential palace in Baabda.

(Reporting by Timour Azhari; Editing by Hugh Lawson)