A large group of Lebanese politicians have slammed claims by Iran’s Supreme Leader who said recently that Tehran’s influence in Lebanon must be expanded.
The National Council for the Ending Iranian Occupation said such remarks are a clear sign of Islamic Republic’s intervention in Lebanon.
On Saturday, Khamenei once again called Lebanon a territory in Iran’s orbit, saying the active policy of the Islamic Republic in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq has led to the failure of “US plots” in these countries.
In a series of tweets from his English account, Khamenei put forward his vision of a Western conspiracy that Iran had foiled. “From the Westerners’ point of view, Iran had strategic depth in six countries. They had to be controlled by the United States and the colonialism before Iran could be dealt with. The governments of these six countries (Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Sudan and Somalia) had to fall,” he says. He then adds that “Iran’s approach was successful in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, and the US policy failed.”
“Such confessions invalidate all the attempts to maintain that Iran is innocent of interfering in the affairs of Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq, as well as other countries (arenas, per the Iranian lexicon.) It also denies the claims made by the leaders of the militias loyal to Iran operating in these countries, who always maintain that Iran supports the aspirations of the people, not its own agenda” Nadim Koteich , a prominent Lebanese journalist and political analyst was quoted as saying .
He added: “Two things seem interesting about what Khamenei said. First, it entails a flagrant contradiction between explicitly endorsing Iran’s strategic successes and his consistent claims that Iran is innocent of the actions that supposedly led to this success, especially when they are of a criminal nature. Second, it does not even mention the staggering costs for his country’s supposed strategic success, which were paid by Lebanon, Syria and Iraq.”
The Lebanese government has not yet reacted to these statements. However, The National Council for Ending Iranian Occupation in a press conference said that the Lebanese presidential election is being controlled by Iran.
“After seven unsuccessful attempts to elect the president, the signs of fatigue are visible on your faces. The reason for this failure is that Lebanon is occupied by Iran,” added the statement.
According to the Lebanese media, the “Axis of Resistance” is one of how Iran is expanding its strategic influence in the region.
The Lebanese government has not yet reacted to these statements. However, The National Council for the Ending Iranian Occupation in a press conference said that the Lebanese presidential election is being controlled by Iran.
“After seven unsuccessful attempts to elect the president, the signs of fatigue are visible on your faces. The reason for this failure is that Lebanon is occupied by Iran,” added the statement.
According to the Lebanese media, the “Axis of Resistance” is one of how Iran is expanding its strategic influence in the region.
The term Axis of Resistance refers to an anti-Western, anti-Israeli and anti-Saudi political and informal military alliance between Iran, Palestinian militant groups, the Syrian government and Iran’s proxy Hezbollah.
The National Council for the Ending Iranian Occupation was officially launched in January to break free from Hezbollah’s armed hegemony over the country that has always been a threat to Lebanese sovereignty.
The council was proposed in January by former MP Fares Souaid, and former MP Ahmad Fatfat.
According to its founders, the goal of the council is to break free from Hezbollah’s armed hegemony over the country that has always been a threat to Lebanese sovereignty.
Iran Int’l/ News Media
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