Alwaght- Following the last month détente agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia, the officials of the two countries have stepped up their diplomatic activities to help end regional crises. Iran’s Foreign Minister Hussein Amir-Abdollahian who in recent weeks made trips to several regional countries this time visited Lebanon for talks with officials there.
Upon his arrival in Beirut, Amir-Abdollahian reiterated Tehran’s continued support to the Lebanese people, army, and resistance represented by Hezbollah.
“The Islamic Republic [of Iran] has always supported negotiations in the region and does not consider war as an option. Through our bilateral relations, we have ideas and initiatives to improve the situation in Lebanon, and new and constructive conditions are taking place in the region,” he said.
The top diplomat met Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and also his counterpart Abdullah Bou Habib.
In a meeting with his Lebanese counterpart, the FM commented on the political developments in Lebanon, saying: “Iran will support any election and agreement among all parties in Lebanon regarding the election of the president for this country, and we ask all foreign parties to support elections in Lebanon without interfering in its affairs.”
Asserting that Iran does not want but good for Lebanon, Amir-Abdollahian said that Tehran encourages all Lebanese parties to fast elect a president and complete the political process in this important regional country. His counterpart Bou Habib said that Amir-Abdollahian “told us about the Iranian-Saudi agreement and we hope that the good embraces Lebanon and we are optimistic about any agreement with neighboring countries.”
On his visit agenda, FM Amir-Abdollahian said that he held a meeting with a number of Lebanese members of parliament to discuss bilateral ties and regional and international developments and got closely informed of the views of the representatives of various Lebanese factions and conveyed the views of the Islamic Republic. Amir-Abdullahian also met Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, discussing with him latest regional developments, recent détente agreement with Saudi Arabi and its influence on the regional states, latest developments in Lebanon, and current conditions in Palestine.
The senior Iranian diplomat further maintained that Iran has always supported the people and government of Lebanon and supported this country even in the worst economic conditions. Given the political crisis Lebanon is in and the failure of parties to elect a president and form a government, Tehran is asking for the cooperation of political factions so that they can end this crisis.
Seizing the Iranian-Saudi agreement opportunity to settle Lebanon crisis
FM Amir-Abdollahian’s Lebanon visit comes after an agreement in March with Saudi Arabia to settle political differences and restore diplomatic ties, with effects of the agreement apparently reflecting across the region. Lebanon has been one of the countries taking damage from Iranian-Saudi tensions over the past seven years with negative impacts observable in political instability and comprehensive crisis. Siding with American and Israeli policies, Saudis imposed massive sanctions on Hezbollah to sideline it in Lebanon’s politics. They have met their failure so far, however.
Though Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan in reaction to hopes about positive effects of his country’s agreement with Iran on Lebanon had said that the Lebanese sides themselves have to talk and agree on a solution and not to wait a joint move by Tehran and Riyadh, the optimism about a settlement has increased after the agreement. Sheikh Naeem Qasim, the deputy secretary general of Hezbollah, recently stated that the implementation of the agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia is going fast and that the positive aspects contributing to election of a president for Lebanon are increasing day by day. Also, the speaker of the Lebanese parliament said that the position of Saudi Arabia regarding the election of the president was positive. Many observers believe that the agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia can provide an opportunity to ease the differences among Lebanon’s political groups and, as a result, move the country’s political environment forward.
Saudi Arabia can seize the opportunity of agreement with Iran to show that it is an advocate of stability in Lebanon and backs government formation in the country. In other words, the ball is now in Riyadh’s court to express its position regarding Lebanon. It is obvious that some Lebanese blocs, like March 14 Alliance led by Saad Hariri or Lebanese Forces led by Samir Geagea, are aligned with Saudi Arabia and are responsible for the political deadlock in the country. Driven by their hostility to Hezbollah, they actually put the skids under efforts to form a government. Therefore, if Saudi Arabia green lights its pieces in Lebanon for interaction with Hezbollah, the country’s problems will be solved in the fastest possible time. Iran is trying to work to this end in association with Saudi Arabia.
The leaders of Lebanon know very well that cooperation between Iran and Saudi Arabia will benefit the region, and therefore, after the announcement of the agreement between the two countries, they welcomed it. Lebanon’s FM earlier said that the resumption of diplomatic relations of Iran and Saudi Arabia was in the interest of the countries and nations of the region and the world. Hezbollah chief Nasrallah expressed his satisfaction with the resumption ties of the two regional heavyweights and maintained that the resistance movement was confident that this agreement was in the interest of regional nations. Therefore, by reopening the embassies of Iran and Saudi Arabia, we can hope for solution to the regional crises, including that of Lebanon. As there have been many progresses in Yemen and Syria cases, this scenario can be followed in Lebanon.
In addition to the political impasse, Lebanon is struggling with a biting economic crisis that requires regional cooperation to relax. Iran and Saudi Arabia can substantially help in this area, too. Lebanon has been grappling with its history’s worst economic conditions since 2019, with over 80 percent of the population living in terrible conditions. The store shelves are empty due to the Western sanctions, and surging prices cause concerns about chaos, social insecurity, and food shortages. Also, the dollar rate in Lebanon has reached its highest level and the value of the lira has plummeted, forcing down the purchasing power of the people. Reports indicate that in the past year, Lebanese bakeries faced difficulty getting flour at different time intervals due to the wheat crisis. According to the UN World Food Program report, Lebanon has one of the highest food inflation rates in the world.
In such a disastrous situation in Lebanon, the agreement between Tehran and Riyadh can be effective in solving the economic problems of this country, and it remains to see what position the Saudis will take regarding the developments in Lebanon. Having in mind that most of the crises in the region are driven by the tensions of Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, the higher the level of interaction between regional powers, the less the tensions will be, and this also applies to Lebanon.
Over the past two years, Iran met part of Lebanon’s fuel needs amid a grave fuel crisis in the country, defying American warnings not to violate the sanctions. In this visit, too, Iran expressed readiness to help. Amir-Abdollahian told Lebanese officials that to help settle fuel and power crisis, Tehran is ready to transfer experiences in construction and operation of power plans and their maintenance.
Tehran’s message to Tel Aviv from zero point of border
Iran’s cooperation with Lebanon is not limited to politics and economy, and security has always been part of their partnership. In the FM’s visit, the focus on security matters was obvious.
Amir-Abdollahian’s visit followed surging tensions between Hezbollah and Israel in recent weeks, with hardline cabinet led by Benjamin Netanyahu stepping up its military movements around the disputed Karish gas field. This comes as earlier this month and following an Israeli raid of the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque, tens of rockets were fired from southern Lebanon at Israeli cities and Hezbollah officials warned that if the Israeli enemy continues its violations against The mosque, they will support Palestinians with their full force.
In addition to meeting Lebanese officials, including Sayyed Nasrallah, Amir-Abdollahian visited the zero point of Lebanese border with the occupied Palestinian territories, carrying a meaningful message to Tel Aviv not to make uncalculated move amid tensions. During his meeting with Berri, the FM lauded the “distinguished” role of Lebanon and Hezbollah in standing in the face of the destructive Israeli efforts in the region and stressed on the expansion of bilateral ties at all economic, trade, cultural, and scientific levels as there are suitable opportunities for such a partnership.
“Our region has entered a new stage of collective cooperation. The future is very bright for the countries of the region, and without a doubt, all the positive developments in the region will lead to the isolation and collapse of the Zionist regime,” said Amir-Abdollahian.
In the meeting, Berri described Lebanon and resistance as the “robust fortress” against the Israeli regime.
Iran’s military officials have repeatedly warned Tel Aviv that any fomentation of crisis will not serve its interests and the Islamic Republic unwaveringly backs resistance groups. Therefore, Amir-Abdollahian’s presence in the zero point of border marks an assurance to Hezbollah and Palestinian resistance groups that they are not alone in the face of the Israeli regime and Tehran continues to stand with them as ever. The Islamic Republic’s supports to Hezbollah make a deterrence against Israeli warmongering in southern Lebanon and the Karish gas field; otherwise, a dreadful fate would await the Israelis.
