Lebanon and Iran: Backgrounder

Lebanon and Iran: Backgrounder

• Iran, which has long been a powerful player in Lebanon, has been able to increase its influence in recent years. [1]

• Iran helped create, finance and train Hezbollah the strongest member of Lebanon’s pro-Syrian opposition bloc. [2] As a consequence, Iran is a firm presence on Lebanon’s borders.  Published reports that say Iran provides hundreds of millions of dollars of aid annually are likely exaggerated. Iran probably provides financial assistance and military assistance worth about $25-50 million. Hezbollah is closely allied with, and often directed by, Iran, but has the capability and willingness to act independently. [3]

• Lebanon’s Finance Minister Jihad Azour acknowledged that Iranian money is going directly to Hezbollah. [4] Senior Hezbollah official Kassam Allaik said Iran had its own groups in Lebanon, rebuilding bridges, roads, and mosques. [5]

• In May 2008, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki met with Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Nasrallah thanked Mottaki for his country’s support of Hezbollah. [6]

• Now that Syria has been uprooted from Lebanon and is in the midst of negotiations with Israel [7], Iran and Hezbollah work together more closely. [8] Iran has benefited from the failure to resolve the Arab-Israeli dispute to forge new ties with Hamas and to deepen its relationship with Hezbollah. [9]

• The war in Lebanon in July 2006 had many consequences, the most important of which has been the rise of public support for Hezbollah and the decrease of support for the Siniora government. [10] As a result of its military defeat in 2006, Hezbollah was pushed to Beirut, forcing it out of its strongholds in South Lebanon.

• Rival Lebanese leaders, the Western-backed government and the pro-Syrian opposition, clinched a deal after talks in Qatar on May 21, 2008, to end an 18-month political feud that nearly drove the country to a new civil war. [11] The deal covers the election of army chief Michel Suleiman as president, the formation of a national unity government and a ban on the use of weapons in any internal conflict. [12] Under the deal, the opposition – led by the Hezbollah political and militant group – will have the power of veto in a new cabinet of national unity.

• Analysts say the agreement is a major triumph for Hezbollah, whose key demands have been met. Hezbollah has been refusing to give up any of its military capability, arguing that it is essential in the struggle against Israel. [13] When Hezbollah recently showed its muscle by occupying much of West Beirut, senior Iranian officials said the decision was made by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah without prior consultation with Iran, in reaction to Lebanese government moves that threatened the organization’s military communications. [14]

• Iran is has been skilful in its political expansion. The Doha agreements confirm this. Hezbollah’s success means Tehran’s success. [15] The new rules of the game in Lebanon, established in recent weeks, have granted Hezbollah de facto control over the country. [16] Lebanon will likely be unable to resolve its own domestic problems while Iran continues to try to build up its strategic position across the country. [17]

 

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References:
[1] Slackman, Michael: „Iran moves into Lebanon vacuum,“ International Herald Tribune, March 13, 2006, http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/03/12/news/beirut.php?page=1
[2] „Who are Hezbollah?,“ BBC Online, May 21, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4314423.stm 
[3] GlobalSecurity.org
[4] Whittington, James: „Iran ´sending funds to Hezbollah,“ BBC Online, November 2, 2006, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6112036.stm
[5] Ibid.
[6] Cohen, Dudi: „Nasrallah thanks Iran for supporting Hizbullah,“ YnetNews, May 27, 2008, http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3548677,00.html
[7] „Israel-Syria confirm peace talks,“ BBC Online, May 21, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7412247.stm
[8] Slackman, Michael: „Iran moves into Lebanon vacuum,“ International Herald Tribune, March 13, 2006, http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/03/12/news/beirut.php?page=1
[9] Slavin, Barbara: „Hyping the threat from Iran,“ San Francsico Chronicle, May 20, 2008, http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/20/ED3R10MCVD.DTL[10]
[10]Strindberg, Anders: „Post-War Lebanon and the Syria-Iran-Palestine axis,“ The Finnish Institute of International Affairs, December 19, 2006, http://www.upi-fiia.fi/eng/events/events_2006/post-war_lebanon_and_the_syria-iran-palestine_axis/[12]
[11]Khalil, Ali: „Lebanon leaders clinch deal to end crisis,“ Agence France Presse, May 21, 2008, http://www.dailystar.com.lb/articlebr.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=92267
[12]„Rival Lebanon leaders clinch deal,“ AlJazeera, May 21, 2008, http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/E7E68963-95CB-4C50-A4D1-5796E7E474EF.htm
[13]„Lebanon rivals agree crisis deal,“ BBC Online, May 21, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7411835.stm
[14]Slavin, Barbara: „Hyping the threat from Iran,“ San Francsico Chronicle, May 20, 2008, http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/20/ED3R10MCVD.DTL
[15]Appakova, Maria: „Civil war averted in Lebanon,“ RIA Novosti, May 21, 2008, http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20080521/108021702.html
[16]Harel, Amos: „Analysis/ Can Syria break ist Iranian bear hug?,“ Haaretz, May 25, 2008, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/986582.html
[17]Slackman, Michael: „Iran moves into Lebanon vacuum,“ International Herald Tribune, March 13, 2006, http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/03/12/news/beirut.php?page=1