Calm and reassure
According to what follow-up sources say, Abdullahian’s visit has a set of goals at this stage, the first of which is to establish Iran’s presence on the Lebanese and Syrian arenas, in light of all Arab attempts to return. The second is to seek political calm at this stage, pending the parliamentary elections, especially since Hezbollah’s estimates indicate its ability to achieve victory in the elections. This will be in the party’s interest, and it will have a political impact in the next stage, which Iran will succeed in benefiting from after the completion of the nuclear agreement. Abdullahian reassured the allies that there is no change in Iran’s position in light of its pursuit of the nuclear agreement, especially since Tehran demands the Americans to remove the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and Hezbollah from the list of terrorism.
Waiting for the nuclear deal
Likewise, Abdullahian reiterated with Lebanese officials his country’s readiness to help build power plants in the fields of energy and oil, and that Iranian companies are ready to assist in oil exploration operations. The Lebanese answer was welcome, but after the lifting of sanctions on Iran, because at this stage it is not possible to enter into these agreements, so that Lebanon will not be subjected to sanctions.
Abdullahian said in a press statement: “Sayyid Nasrallah informed us of what we reached in the Vienna talks and the issue of lifting sanctions, and we made proposals to Lebanese officials to establish two power plants in the south and north and to supply Lebanon with Iranian gas, and we told our friends in Lebanon that the American side will not help them and will not allow others. With their help, the Lebanese prime minister welcomed our ideas for help, but regarding the timing, he said it was related to the nuclear deal.” He considered that the meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh immediately after President al-Assad’s visit to the UAE was not a good thing.
Aoun: The return of the refugees
Aoun told Abdullahian, during his meeting with him, that “Lebanon considers that any positive development in the Vienna negotiations to reach a final agreement between Iran, the Security Council and Germany will have positive repercussions on stability and peace in the countries of the region and the world.”
He also expressed his hope that “rounds of dialogue between Iran and Saudi Arabia will be resumed, given their role at the regional and international levels, so that efforts will reflect positively on the region and contribute to strengthening rapprochement between its countries.” He thanked Iran for “the solidarity it has always shown towards the Lebanese people during the difficult crises they are going through,” noting the “aid it provided to Lebanon after the explosion that occurred in the port of Beirut.” He conveyed his greetings to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.
Aoun spoke about the file of the Syrian exodus to Lebanon and its negative repercussions, wishing “Iran’s assistance to find a solution to this crisis that has exhausted the Lebanese economy and has become a great social and financial burden, especially since most of the Syrian regions have become safe, allowing the return of the displaced Syrians.” . He also presented the negative repercussions of the war between Russia and Ukraine, hoping that “the language of dialogue between the two countries will prevail, in order to reach a quick peaceful solution to the differences between them.”
Iranian wheat!
At the outset of the meeting, which was attended by the Iranian ambassador in Beirut, Muhammad Jalal Firouzania, and the accompanying Iranian delegation, Abdel Lahyan conveyed to Aoun the greetings of the Iranian president and his appreciation for “Aoun’s efforts to promote stability and unity in Lebanon and activate Lebanese-Iranian relations.”
Then he presented the outcome of the talks between his country and Saudi Arabia, the negotiations in Vienna and the positions of the countries concerned about them, expressing his optimism that “these talks will lead to positive results soon.” He pointed out that “military developments between Moscow and Ukraine have weighed on the ongoing negotiations as well as on the situation in the countries of the world,” as President Aoun outlined in the results of his visit to Syria.
Abdul Lahyan reiterated his country’s “emphasis on providing the assistance Lebanon needs in all fields,” noting that “he discussed its details with the Lebanese officials with whom he met, especially Prime Minister Najib Mikati, most notably providing wheat and other necessary foodstuffs that may cause a food crisis. Globally, as a result of the Russian-Ukrainian war,” he suggested holding bilateral meetings between the relevant ministers in both countries, to discuss the details and work mechanisms.