The issue of the Iranian plane continues to stir tensions and the Lebanese Directorate General of Civil Aviation announced its intention on Thursday to send a plane to repatriate Lebanese nationals stranded in Tehran.
According to several media outlets, Iranian authorities rejected Lebanon’s request to allow two Middle East Airlines (MEA) planes to land in Tehran on Friday.
After MEA requested permission from Iran for two of its planes to land at Tehran Airport, Iranian civil aviation responded that the request must be submitted through the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in accordance with the bilateral agreements between the two countries.
Lebanese Ambassador to Iran Hassan Abbas clarified that coordination would go through his office. He also mentioned that the delay in processing the request could be due to Friday being a public holiday in Iran, which might cause further delays.
Lebanese Stranded in Iran
The issue of Lebanese nationals being stranded at Tehran Airport arose after Lebanon banned an Iranian Mahan Air flight from taking off for Beirut on Thursday, sparking tensions in the Lebanese capital. Hezbollah supporters blocked roads leading to the airport by burning tires and disrupting traffic, forcing some travelers to reach the airport on foot to avoid missing their flights. Clashes with security forces intensified the situation. Hezbollah condemned what it considered an infringement on Lebanese sovereignty, accusing the authorities of yielding to pressure from Israel and the United States.
The issue escalated when passengers reported being stuck for over eight hours at Tehran Airport, complaining about the delay and accusing Lebanese authorities of blocking the flight to serve Israeli and US interests. Later in the evening, the Lebanese Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) explained that Mahan Air had to reschedule its flight as part of a reorganization of schedules, prompted by security concerns linked to the planned Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon on February 18.
Tensions Over Suspicions of Hezbollah Financing
The incident occurred in an already tense context, marked by suspicions of Iranian attempts to divert funds in favor of Hezbollah. Israel has accused Iran of using Beirut Airport to facilitate funding for the militant group. Mahan Air, which is linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, is believed to have been involved in these activities, violating international agreements. In response, Israel intensified its surveillance operations, claiming that funds destined for Hezbollah were circulating covertly through civilian flights.
This situation has led to heightened security measures at Beirut Airport, particularly for flights coming from Iran and Iraq, to prevent the entry of funds potentially meant to finance Hezbollah's military operations.
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