A stinging humiliation: Syrian journalists report the regime refused permission on Wednesday for Ali Larijani, the head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, to cross its airspace.
Larijani's business jet, which took off from Baghdad, was forced to reroute through Turkey on its way to and from Lebanon. The FlightRadar24 tracking app confirmed that Larijani's jet made a major detour around Turkey.
Hezbollah announced that its deputy secretary-general, Naim Qassem, met with Larijani in Beirut, alongside Iranian Ambassador Mojtaba Amani. According to the group, Qassem expressed gratitude for Iran's ongoing support.
Larijani arrived in Beirut on Wednesday after a visit to Iraq, at a time when the Lebanese government is heading for a collision course with the Iranian axis over the disarmament of Hezbollah.
Sharp diplomatic clash with the president
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told Larijani he rejects any foreign interference in Lebanon's affairs. "We reject any interference in our internal affairs from any side," Aoun was quoted as saying in Lebanese media, adding that "no group should carry weapons and rely on foreign backing."
Aoun also said "the language I've heard recently from some Iranian officials is unhelpful" and that friendship with Iran should be "with all Lebanese, not through one sect or faction. Any challenge posed by the Israeli enemy or others is a challenge for all Lebanese, not just part of them."
In response, Larijani said he "respected any decision taken by the Lebanese government regarding factions on its soil," in reference to the cabinet's decision last week to dismantle Hezbollah's arsenal, which prompted the group's ministers to walk out of the meeting.
However, in a meeting with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally, Larijani said Iran "does not support decrees that set a timetable" and that "countries should not issue orders to Lebanon." He urged the Lebanese "to distinguish between friend and foe and understand that the resistance is a major asset for you" and recommended "preserving it."
Last week, Lebanon's cabinet held a dramatic session on Hezbollah's disarmament. Five Shiite ministers stormed out in protest, but the government nonetheless approved the main goals of a US plan presented by envoy Tom Barrack. According to leaked details in Lebanese media, the plan calls for dismantling Hezbollah's weapons in four stages over 120 days. Once completed, the Israel Defense Forces would withdraw from positions it still holds in southern Lebanon.
