The Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee confirmed that Iranian diplomats were not subjected to any inspection at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport last Friday.
Ebrahim Rezai, the committee’s spokesperson, clarified on Sunday, “The committee held an extensive four-hour session to investigate the reports from Beirut Airport. Iranian diplomats were not inspected, and the matter was resolved swiftly in coordination with Lebanese authorities.”
This statement follows heightened tensions at the airport last week.
On Thursday, General Security officers conducted a thorough search of a Mahan Air plane from Iran, despite protests from an Iranian Embassy employee who claimed diplomatic immunity for the contents of his bag.
Airport security ultimately retained the bag, citing strict adherence to regulations. The bag reportedly contained documents and financial records for operational use at the Iranian Embassy, which were later confirmed to comply with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961).
The Thursday incident prompted protests among Hezbollah affiliates, with videos showing motorcyclists waving Hezbollah flags near the airport. Lebanese security forces deployed tanks to block roads leading to the airport to maintain order.
The following day, a second Iranian plane was searched at the airport without incident.
Caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi defended the searches, describing them as “routine measures” to protect Lebanon and ensure compliance with the law.
Speaking to MTV, Mawlawi stressed the importance of safeguarding Lebanon’s sovereignty and security, citing ongoing Israeli threats and the truce agreement with Israel, which includes measures to prevent Hezbollah from rearming.
Lebanese authorities maintain that these measures are vital to preserving national stability, while Iranian officials continue to emphasize their adherence to international laws and norms.
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