Hariri says Iran should not interfere in Lebanon's affairs

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri has criticised Soleimani, saying Iran's meddling in Lebanon's internal affairs was "not in their interest".

MENA

1 min read

The New Arab

11 June, 2018

Lebanon's Saad Hariri hs begun his third term as prime minister [Getty]

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri has criticised a top Iranian general for comments he reportedly made in which he praised Iran-backed groups for making gains in last month's parliamentary elections.

The Iran-backed Hizballah and its allies gained more than half the seats of the 128-member parliament in the 6 May parliamentary elections, with Hariri's Future Movement party losing a third of its seats, resulting in 21 won.

Lebanese media aired a video posted on social media showing General Qassem Soleimani, the commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, saying that Hizballah's victory came at a time when some Arab countries labelled it and its leaders as terrorists.

Hariri told reporters later on Monday that the comments are "regrettable," adding that interfering in Lebanon's internal affairs is "not in their (Iran's) interest, nor those of Lebanon or the region."

The number of Hizballah lawmakers in the 128-seat parliament may not increase but pre-electoral tactics secured it enough allies to withstand political challenges on strategic issues, including calls for it to disarm.

Lebanon has often been a scene where the rivalry between the region's two heavyweights Iran and Saudi Arabia has played out, but their political clients in this election seemed content to maintain the status quo.