No Iranian Meddling in Lebanon’s Election: FM
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Expressing optimism about the completion of political processes in Lebanon with the imminent election of a new president, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian underlined that Tehran would by no means interfere in the election of a Lebanese president.
Speaking at a press conference in Beirut on Friday, Amirabdollahian said while there are complications and conflicting views in Lebanon regarding the election of a president, Iran’s evaluation is that the Lebanese are serious about choosing a new president and are accelerating such process.
“We are optimistic that the people of Lebanon will in the near future see the election of president and the completion of the political process,” the Iranian foreign minister added.
He also underscored that Iran has never interfered and won’t interfere in the election of a Lebanese president, noting that Tehran will support whoever will be chosen by the Lebanese people.
Amirabdollahian noted that Iran can solve Lebanon’s electricity shortage problem through bilateral cooperation with the Arab country and in defiance of the already failed US sanctions.
“Of course, the US pressures and fearmongering about sanctions are among the problems in this regard, but you should know that the US sanctions have failed,” he said, Press TV reported.
Lebanon has been beset by a severe fuel crisis that has left many households and businesses struggling with recurrent power outages, while its economic meltdown since 2019 has slowed down imports of fuel for government plants.
Last year, Iran supplied much-needed fuel shipments to Lebanon via Syria after the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement asked for Iranian help to ease the energy shortage in the Arab country.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Amirabdollahian said Iran and Saudi Arabia will reopen their embassies and consulate generals in the coming days, almost two months after the two regional heavyweights agreed to normalize relations severed seven years earlier.
“During the last phone conversation between the Iranian and Saudi Arabian foreign ministers on Eid al-Fitr (April 21), we agreed to open our embassies and consulate generals in the two countries in the coming days,” he said.
The top Iranian diplomat noted that the resumption of relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia would lead to “positive” outcomes for regional countries, including Lebanon, and would open new chapters in ties among them.
He noted that before Eid al-Fitr, he extended an official invitation to Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud to visit Tehran which was accepted by him.
The top Iranian diplomat further said that his Saudi counterpart has also invited him to pay an official visit to Riyadh, adding that “the time of the visits will be announced through diplomatic channels.”
After several days of intensive negotiations hosted by China, Iran and Saudi Arabia finally clinched a deal on March 10 to restore diplomatic relations and reopen embassies and missions within two months after seven years of estrangement.
Iran, Saudi Arabia and China also expressed their firm determination to make their utmost efforts to promote regional and international peace and security.
