WANA (Feb 18) – Lebanon’s Foreign Minister, Youssef Raji, dismissed the possibility of a diplomatic crisis with Iran, emphasizing that the current priority is to facilitate the return of 200 Lebanese citizens from Iran. In an interview, Raji stated that the Lebanese ambassador in Tehran is following up on the matter, along with the pending issuance of necessary permits.

 

Lebanon Arranges Alternative Flight Route

Raji revealed that the government has requested its ambassador in Tehran to coordinate a flight from Iran to Baghdad, followed by a transfer to Beirut. He confirmed that Lebanon would cover any additional costs incurred by this arrangement.

 

He acknowledged the complexities of Lebanon-Iran relations, stressing the need for a pragmatic approach to resolve issues gradually and avoid unnecessary tensions. He also called on Iran to consider Lebanon’s internal situation.

 

Parliament Speaker Urges Diplomatic Solution

Meanwhile, Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri underscored the importance of handling the Tehran-Beirut flight issue responsibly and without media sensationalism. According to visitors who met with Berri, he warned that mismanagement of the situation could drag Lebanon into unwanted tensions.

 

Berri insisted that the dispute between Iran and Lebanon should be resolved through direct dialogue. He also condemned Israeli interference in the matter, accusing it of trying to prevent Iranian flights from landing at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport.

 

“If this interference continues, what guarantees do we have that Israel won’t later claim African nationals are transferring funds to Hezbollah and use that as an excuse to target Lebanon’s central bank, just as it is now targeting our airport?” Berri questioned.

 

Emphasizing Lebanon’s sovereignty, he declared, “We are not and will not become an Israeli colony. Any foreign dictate that undermines our national sovereignty is unacceptable. Urgent crises must be addressed based on Lebanon’s best interests.”

 

Hezbollah Condemns Ban on Iranian Flights

On Sunday, Hezbollah issued a statement demanding that the Lebanese government reverse its decision to block Iranian flights from landing in Beirut. The group urged authorities to take serious measures to counter Israeli violations of Lebanese sovereignty.

 

A day earlier, Hezbollah had called for public demonstrations against Israeli intervention. Protesters gathered on the old Beirut airport road, condemning what they described as Israeli-imposed conditions and violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty.