Larijani in Beirut: Iranian Support for Lebanon Amid Controversy Over Hezbollah's Weapons

SadaNews - An airplane carrying the Secretary General of the Iranian National Security Council, Ali Larijani, landed at Beirut Airport on Wednesday morning.

From Beirut Airport, Larijani stated in an initial remark that "the people of Lebanon are dear to us, and we will stand by them in all circumstances."

Larijani's visit to Beirut is considered a "critical moment" in the history of Lebanon, as the visit carries important political and security messages.

This visit comes days after decisive Iranian statements rejecting any attempt to disarm Hezbollah, amid an official Lebanese decision moving towards "the exclusivity of arms in the hands of the state," supported by a presidential and governmental vision emphasizing the necessity of unifying institutions and enhancing Arab and international trust in Lebanon.

These movements coincide with a complicated internal scene, where positions are divided between supporting the government’s decision as a step towards building a strong state, and a firm rejection from Hezbollah, which sees the decision as a threat to the function of its weapons and a prelude to internal strife, while the political opposition raises its rhetoric against what it describes as "Iranian interference and inciting Hezbollah to rebel against legitimacy."

Between these two lines, the official Beirut is trying to maintain a delicate balance between proceeding with the decision and avoiding slipping into an open confrontation.

The Secretary of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council had visited Iraq days ago, where he signed a bilateral security agreement between the two countries.