Did Zarif visit Lebanon to ease Iran’s int’l isolation?
During his
visit to Beirut, Iran’s foredign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said his country
is ready to cooperate with the new Lebanese government, offering support in all
sectors.
The two-day visit comes days after the leader of the Iran-backed
Hezbollah group urged Lebanon's government to accept anti-aircraft weapons from
Iran, as well as electricity and medicine.
The visit stirred controversy within the Lebanese political scene,
which is currently witnessing a short period of stability after nine months of
forming the government.
On the other hand, parties and groups that are being supported and
financed by Iran welcomed the visit, which was criticized by Lebanon’s national
powers that saw it as interference in Lebanon’s decision making.
Zarif congratulated the Lebanese on the formation of a new
national unity government and said he was there to express Iran's solidarity
with Lebanon and its people.
Former Lebanese Justice Minister Major-General Ashraf Rifi said in
a press message to Zarif, published by local news outlets, that Iran’s policies
caused Lebanon, and many Arab countries, severe damage, chaos and instability.
He also pointed out that Iran is trying to beautify its
project to hold control over the region through building a role for Iran over
the ruins of countries that it interfered in their policies and deployed armed
militias in.
“As you arrived in Beirut, and as an Iranian official announced
proudly that it is currently under Iran’s control along with four other Arab
capitals, I would like to be frank with you that a major part of Lebanese look
suspiciously at Iran because of its destructive policy and attitude towards
Lebanon and its state foundations,” Rifi added in his message to Zarif.
“Is not it time for Iran to
return to its normal behavior, and finally be convinced that its policy of
seeking power and investing in chaos and violence is mere futility and is
negatively effecting the Iranian people on the first place and countries of the
region, not to mention isolating Iran, which is currently happening now,” he
added.
He also criticized how Hezbollah is endangering Lebanon and is
ready to involve it in its conflicts for a regional influence while in 2006
they did not really stand for Lebanon and launch one rocket against Israel.
For his part, Iranian affairs expert Mohamed Alaaddin said Zarif’s
visit comes days after forming the new government, which got hindered thanks to
Iran’s agents in Lebanon and how they sought to get the largest numbers of
seats and presence at the Parliament and the political scene.
He also told The Reference in an interview that the visit is an
attempt by Iran to reduce the international isolation imposed over the Iranian
regime, pointing out that the visit is widely rejected by many Lebanese
political and popular sectors.
