Latest news with #LebanonPolitics
CTV News
7 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Iranian minister says Tehran backs Lebanon in its push to end Israel's military presence
Lebanese president Joseph Aoun, right, shakes hands with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Lebanese Presidency press office via AP) BEIRUT — Iran's foreign minister said Tehran supports Lebanon's efforts to pressure Israel to end its military presence in parts of the country, including diplomatic moves 'to expel the occupiers.' Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi added on Tuesday that Iran looks forward to relations with Lebanon based on mutual respect under the new circumstances in the country following the Israel-Hezbollah war. Araghchi's visit comes after Iran's main Lebanese ally, Hezbollah, was weakened by the 14-month war with Israel that left much of the Iran-backed group's political and military leadership dead. Araghchi's visit is his first since October, which came at the height of the Israel-Hezbollah war that ended a month later with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire. The war killed more than 4,000 in Lebanon, displaced over 1 million people and caused destruction that the World Bank said will coast US$11 billion in reconstruction. Since the war ended, army commander Joseph Aoun was elected president and prominent jurist and diplomat Nawaf Salam became the country's prime minister. Both Aoun and Salam have repeatedly said that only the state will monopolize the use of weapons in Lebanon. The visit also comes after the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad was removed from power in December by insurgent group's opposed to Iran's influence in the region. Assad was one of Tehran's closest allies in the Arab world and his country was a main link for the flow of weapons from Iran to Hezbollah. Aoun told the visiting Iranian official during their meeting that Beirut wants 'to strengthen relations from state to state with Iran.' Aoun's comments were released by his office. Over the past decades, Iran funded Hezbollah with billions of dollars and sent all types of weapons to the Lebanese group enjoying wide influence in the small Mediterranean nation through. Since the Israel-Hezbollah war ended, Lebanese authorities have taken tight measures at Beirut's airport to prevent the flow of funds from Iran to Hezbollah and flights by Iranian companies have been suspended to Beirut. 'We look forward to having relations (with Lebanon) based on mutual respect and non-interference in each country's internal affairs,' Araghchi told reporters after meeting Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. He added that Iran backs a national dialogue in Lebanon between rival groups. Iran condemns the occupation of Lebanese territories 'by the Zionist entity and supports all efforts exerted by the Lebanese government and people to expel the occupiers through any way including diplomatic methods,' Araghchi said, referring to five posts Israel refused to withdraw from earlier this year. Iranian companies are ready to take part in Lebanon's reconstruction if the Lebanese government wants that, Araghchi said. Earlier Tuesday, Araghchi held talks with his Lebanese counterpart, Youssef Rajji, and discussed Iran's ongoing negotiations with the United States over Tehran's nuclear program. Bassem Mroue, The Associated Press
LBCI
16-05-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
MP Ghayath Yazbek tells LBCI: No alliance with Hezbollah in Beirut, Lebanon needs a unified state strategy
MP Ghayath Yazbek of the Strong Republic bloc said that insisting on holding onto weapons only weakens the Lebanese state's position in efforts to push Israel out of Lebanese territory. Speaking on LBCI's "Nharkom Said" TV show, he urged Hezbollah to empower the Lebanese state by handing over this leverage, allowing it to negotiate more effectively with international actors to end Israel's occupation of southern border points. Yazbek also said he supports the idea that Lebanon should be the last country to sign a peace deal with Israel. Commenting on Beirut's upcoming municipal elections, he stressed the importance of Christian participation to prevent the city from falling under one political group, adding: "We have not allied with Hezbollah in Beirut—our candidacy is a statement of faith in the city's diversity."
LBCI
14-05-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
President Aoun chairs Cabinet meeting at Baabda Palace, holds series of political and security consultations
President Joseph Aoun is presiding over a Cabinet session at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Baabda Presidential Palace. The agenda includes 28 items covering agreements, draft laws, decrees, appointments, and administrative matters. Earlier in the day, the president held a series of meetings at the palace focused on political, security, administrative, and cultural issues. Among the visitors was Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri, who updated President Aoun on the outcomes of his recent meetings in Qatar and France. The two also discussed government affairs and the work of several ministerial committees chaired by Mitri, including those focused on refugees, public sector reform, digital transformation, and international humanitarian law. Mitri noted that a report prepared by the International Humanitarian Law Committee addresses Israeli violations of international law. The discussions also covered regional and international developments. President Aoun also chaired a security and administrative meeting attended by Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar, Director General of the Presidency Antoine Choucair, State Security chief Hassan Choucair, Internal Security Forces chief Raed Abdullah, the Presidency's Director General of Legal Affairs Judge Yahya Karkatli, and the president's military and security advisor Antoine Mansour. The meeting focused on the Interior Ministry's work, including preparations for the second phase of the municipal and local elections recently held in the North and Akkar governorates. Culture Minister Ghassan Salame met with President Aoun to discuss cultural and national issues, the ministry's agenda, and future plans.
LBCI
09-05-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Lebanon ready for Emirati return amid tightened airport security, interior minister says
Interior Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar said Friday that holding municipal elections was meant to send a clear message from Lebanon's new administration to the international community about its seriousness in fulfilling democratic commitments. Speaking during a meeting with a delegation from the Lebanese Press Editors Syndicate, al-Hajjar stressed the elections were designed to be a model of neutrality and transparency. 'We insisted the elections be exemplary, to affirm that neutrality from the authorities is a duty, not a favor,' he said. He praised the efforts of a wide range of participants—including directors general, military and security leaders, and civil servants—who worked intensively to ensure the elections were fair and transparent. Al-Hajjar described the upcoming municipal elections in Beirut as 'the mother of all battles,' saying the capital's significance warranted exceptional effort to guarantee voters' rights and a smooth electoral process. The minister also noted that the ministry was prepared to support the return of Emirati nationals to Lebanon, highlighting the role of a ministerial committee overseeing security, tourism, economy, and transport. The committee approved a set of measures at the airport and along access roads in coordination with relevant authorities. On the issue of Syrian refugee returns, al-Hajjar said preparations are underway to accelerate the process in cooperation with Lebanese ministries, security agencies, international organizations, and the new Syrian government, which has shown interest in expediting return programs. He cited Prime Minister Nawaf Salam's visit to Damascus and meetings with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and other officials as part of the coordination efforts. Al-Hajjar also confirmed that a ministerial committee headed by Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri is working to create conditions that would enable the implementation of a national return plan, supported both domestically and internationally.
