The problem of the Iranian ambassador is serious and must be solved… and there are ways out Speaker Berri: Tehran informed me that any solution would include Lebanon
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri proposes a different approach based on containing the crisis and searching for political exits, warning of the repercussions of sliding into escalatory options. Berri’s visitors reported that he was officially informed by Iran that any solution to the war in the region would include Lebanon.
“The issue of the Iranian ambassador in Beirut is a serious problem that must be solved, and there are many ways out of this that can be investigated, including, for example, formulating the resolution with the phrase “suspended implementation.” This is what President Berri asserts decisively before his visitors, in parallel with an escalation path and a coordinated campaign by the guardianship allies at home, through political and media platforms, to demand extreme measures that would go as far as closing the Iranian embassy in Beirut and expelling its entire diplomatic staff, leading to severing relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran, following Tehran’s decision to keep Shaibani in Beirut, despite the expiration of the deadline set by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For leaving Lebanon.
In the background of this debate, President Berri reveals, according to his visitors, a high level of internal political tension raised by this issue, noting that the relationship with the President of the Republic, Joseph Aoun, is “very cold,” and that “communications with everyone are cut off,” pointing out that “during the last period, I cooperated with the president to the fullest extent.” The congratulatory visit that the Speaker of the Council is supposed to make to the Republican Palace on the occasion of the holidays does not seem sufficient to dispel this atmosphere, “because this is a serious problem for which a solution must be found,” pointing out that Shibani “is one of the most prominent diplomatic figures in Iran, and Lebanon had agreed to accredit him,” surprising at the same time the unjustified delay in receiving his credentials since his arrival in Beirut.
The relationship with Aoun is very cold, the army and its commander are a red line, and Jumblatt does not lose sight of the compass
The Speaker of the House of Representatives stresses that “we are Arabs first, Lebanese second, and Shiites third.” We are an Arab country, and we are very keen on the Arab countries and the best relations with them.” However, “We are with Iran when the choice is between it and Israel, and if it is between Israel and the black goblins, then we are definitely against Israel,” noting that the Iranian performance in the ongoing war was a surprise to many.
In the same context, Berri reveals, according to his visitors, that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi informed him, one day before the Lebanese Foreign Ministry’s decision regarding the ambassador, that Tehran is committed to ensuring that any agreement to end the war includes Lebanon as well, stressing that “what applies to Tehran applies to Beirut.”
Internally, the President of the Council confirms that “the first priority today is for the displaced and to preserve national unity.” In this context, he expresses his satisfaction with “the Sunni-Shiite climate in the country,” and with “the atmosphere of receiving the displaced in the mountain, and this confirms what I always say, that Walid Jumblatt does not lose sight of the compass.”
He also points out that he met the recent initiative brought to him by the head of the Free Patriotic Movement, MP Gebran Bassil, “with great positivity.” However, despite this, he expresses his fear for civil peace, stressing that the security plan implemented by the security forces and the Lebanese army is “in the interest of the country and the interest of our displaced people.” The Council President stresses that “the army is a red line, and it is forbidden to touch it, from the youngest soldier to the commander,” and describes the relationship with General Rudolph Heikal as “excellent.”
