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Inflaming the Scene.. Iranian Parliament Speaker: Khamenei is the Pillar of the Lebanese People
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The Iranian official's statements reveal Tehran's strategy to exploit the current crisis in Lebanon to expand its influence, ignoring Lebanese sovereignty and national interests
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf sparked a new wave of controversy in Lebanon with provocative statements, just two days after causing an uproar about negotiations with France regarding the Lebanese situation.
Qalibaf stated in a press interview today, Sunday: "The main pillar of the Lebanese people is the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the Iranian officials and people." He added, speaking about the situation in the region: "The strategic defeats suffered by the Zionist entity on the ground have made the situation extremely difficult for Israel."
In a statement that sparked more controversy, Qalibaf thanked "all Lebanese citizens and officials who showed him love during his visit to Lebanon," surprisingly adding: "But we must not forget that we are all soldiers in the service of the Islamic Republic of Iran."
Qalibaf's previous statements had provoked angry reactions in Lebanon, where caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati expressed his surprise at the Iranian official's talk about Tehran's readiness to negotiate with France regarding the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 in southern Lebanon.
Mikati emphasized that "the issue of negotiating to implement UN Resolution 1701 is exclusively handled by the Lebanese state," stressing that "everyone is required to support it in this direction, not to seek to impose new guardianships that are rejected in all considerations."
It's worth noting that Qalibaf visited Beirut on October 12, where he renewed his country's support for Hezbollah and the Lebanese people. He offered to provide aid to Lebanon on the condition that it be transferred through a direct relief bridge between Tehran and Beirut, under government supervision.
On the other hand, many Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Jordan, and Egypt, have provided and continue to provide relief aid to Lebanon during the past period, while Iran has so far refrained from sending any aid to the country that has been subjected to violent Israeli raids for weeks, leading to the displacement of more than a million Lebanese from their homes.
These statements and developments raise questions about the extent of Iranian intervention's impact on Lebanese sovereignty and regional stability, in light of the current crisis Lebanon and the region as a whole are going through.
Levant-Agencies
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