Hariri-Iran Dispute Reaches Government Formation
Observers noted on Saturday that the dispute between Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Iran will be limited to the Lebanese internal scene, stressing that Lebanon will not succumb to the regional tensions.
A prominent political source told the daily An Nahar in remarks published on Saturday that what appears to be a dispute over Lebanese-Iranian ties in fact stems back to the Saudi-Syrian initiative that was aimed at ending the Lebanese political crisis, which it turned out Iran had obstructed.
“The subsequent developments that witnessed Hariri’s ouster from the premiership through a violation of the constitution and the shifting of the parliamentary majority to the other camp all took place under the threat of arms,” he stressed.
“Hariri’s position against Iranian intervention in Lebanon is part of an Arab stance that views Iran as a threat to the region,” he added.
Such a problem is threatening the livelihood of 400,000 Lebanese working the Arab gulf area and it has already cost Lebanon 400,000 tourists who cancelled trips to Lebanon over fears of the formation of a Hizbullah government in Lebanon, he continued.
Hariri therefore felt the need to protect Lebanon’s interests and his first step in this direction was his telephone call to Bahraini King Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa on Friday, the source stated.
Furthermore, the repercussions of the Hariri-Iran dispute have even reached the government formation process, as demonstrated in Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati’s indirect criticism to Hariri on Friday when he said that “statements by various officials that do not reflect a unified Lebanese stand are harmful to Lebanon.”
On Friday, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast slammed Hariri's recent position on Iran, which he said only serves U.S. and Israel's interests, reported Press TV.
Addressing Hariri, Mehmanparast said that with a proper understanding of the lessons of the popular uprisings in the Arab countries of the Middle East, "[you] should consider the criteria for ruling people as respecting their dignity and independence, as well as avoiding dependence on the West, particularly the U.S. and Zionism."
"While stressing on its fixed policy of all-out interaction with all Lebanese parties and supporting a united Lebanon, which has been proven to all in the past and at present, the Islamic Republic of Iran insists on respecting the inalienable rights of the people," the Iranian official added.
"It goes without saying that Lebanon has not been and will not be an exception to this rule," Mehmanparast stressed.
Later Friday, Hariri's press office hit back, describing the Iranian foreign ministry's remarks as "an attempt to cover up the real problems with inappropriate and repetitive slogans."
"The Press Office of Prime Minister Hariri stresses that what is required from the Iranian regime -- instead of dedicating its time and efforts to respond to the officials in Lebanon, Bahrain, Iraq, Palestine, Kuwait, Egypt, Yemen, Morocco, the UAE and Saudi Arabia -- is to stop interfering in the affairs of these countries and sowing discord among their peoples, and return to the principles of good neighborliness," said Hariri's press office.
Hariri stated on Thursday that the greatest challenge facing the Arab world is "Iran's persistent violations," rejecting the Iranian intervention in the internal affairs of Arab countries.
He accused the Iranian authorities of trying to turn Lebanon and other Gulf states into an Iranian protectorate.
In a statement issued late Thursday, Hizbullah said Hariri's policies do not serve Lebanon's interests and are a U.S. agenda aimed at sowing the seeds of discord among the two nations, as well as regional countries, IRNA reported.