French Report: Iran Seeking to Strengthen Shiite Political Influence in Lebanon
A report by a French parliamentary mission has uncovered what it said were Iran”s "schemes" in the Middle East.
The 200-page report, published by the daily An Nahar on Friday, said Iran was seeking to reinforce the political influence of the Shiite community in Lebanon.
The report was based on the outcome of the mission”s visits to Iran, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain as well as Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.
It was also based on meetings with officials, diplomats and French experts, in addition to officials concerned with the Iranian dossier.
The report pointed out that the relation between Iran and Lebanon "pass through Hizbullah, and not the government."
It described Hizbullah as the "main pillar" of the strategic Syrian-Iranian alliance, adding that the party”s weapons "give it the ability to hit Israel in the event vital Syrian or Iranian interests were subject to any threat or danger."
With Iranian financial backing, Hizbullah, according to the report, was currently buying land southeast of Lebanon "to create a bridge between the Shiites of the south and the Shiitese of the Bekaa."
The report said Iran now has influence among Lebanon”s Shiites.
It said, however, that the alliance between Hizbullah and MP Michel Aoun "is likely to help Iranians expand their influence and reach Christian areas."
The report revealed that Iran”s goal in Lebanon was to "create a new balance between the sects for the benefit of the Shiites such as this accompanies the promotion of Shiite political power in the country."
It quoted Ali Ahani, former Iranian ambassador to Paris who is close to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as saying that "it is not possible to achieve any progress in Lebanon as long as some (parties) in the country refuse to acknowledge a change in the balance of power among the different communities that make up Lebanon."
Ahani said Iran supports the "more flexible and moderate" members in Hizbullah, adding that Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah represents a "realistic, open and reasonable trend, compared to others."
The report also quoted an Arab foreign minister as saying that Iran played a "key role" in cutting the Doha deal in May 2008 after "it realized that Hizbullah committed a grave mistake when it used its arms in May 7, 2008 while these weapons should have been used against any possible Israeli aggression."
The mission confirmed that Iran backs and finances Hamas, adding that Tehran was responsible for encouraging Hamas to carry out its coup against the Palestinian state.
The report also warned that Iran possesses a nuclear, military program and cautioned that "access to nuclear weapons makes the Middle East region face threats and big risks."
The head of the French mission also warned against the possibility that Israel could "strike Iran”s nuclear facilities."