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Iran’s foreign minister on Friday rejected accusations from France over Tehran’s interference in Lebanon, urging President Emmanuel Macron to focus instead on his own country.
“I advise Mr Macron to focus on the situation inside France instead of paying attention to questions of interference in other countries,” Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told a press conference at the Iranian embassy in Beirut at the end of a two-day visit.
Macron had told a conference of French ambassadors earlier this week that a “key element” to resolve Lebanon’s political crisis was “the clarification of regional interference, including that of Iran”.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran has played the most constructive role in Lebanon, and we will continue to stand by Lebanon with all our might,” Abdollahian, calling on Lebanese officials to elect a president without delay.
The country has been without a head of state for ten months. French special envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian — who has been tasked with helping resolve divisions among Lebanon’s sectarian politicians — is expected in Beirut later this month to try to convince the political players to reach a consensus on the election of a president.
Abdollahian’s visit to Lebanon is his second since April. He met upon his arrival Thursday with Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, as well as senior officials from Palestinian factions close to Tehran, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
Joanne Naoum With AFP
