In a significant geopolitical shift, regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia have reportedly opened a direct channel of communication to coordinate on the future of Lebanon, a nation long caught in the crossfire of their proxy conflicts. A series of high-level diplomatic visits, spearheaded by Ali Larijani, the Secretary-General of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, has aimed to de-escalate the intense political strife gripping the country and chart a new course based on cooperation rather than confrontation.
According to a report published by the Israeli newspaper Maariv, which cited information from the Lebanese news site "Elnashra," the delicate diplomatic dance began in earnest during Larijani's visit to Beirut last August. The timing was critical, coming just days after the Lebanese government tasked its army with drafting a plan to disarm Hezbollah by the end of the year. During his visit, Larijani met with a slate of top officials, including President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and Hezbollah's new leader, Naim Qassem. It was in these meetings that Lebanese officials reportedly urged the Iranian envoy to leverage his channels with Riyadh to help ease the crushing domestic political crisis.
That request appears to have been acted upon swiftly. On September 15th, Larijani traveled to Saudi Arabia for a high-profile meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. While the official agenda focused on strengthening bilateral security and economic ties, sources confirmed that the "Lebanese file" was a central topic of discussion. The objective, according to the report, was to move beyond years of proxy battles and establish a framework for positive, collaborative engagement to stabilize Lebanon.
The initial success of this backchannel diplomacy was evident during a subsequent visit by Larijani to Beirut, this time to commemorate the first anniversary of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah's death. The atmosphere was notably warmer. A meeting with Prime Minister Salam, described as tense during the first encounter, was now markedly more friendly. In a symbolic gesture of goodwill, Larijani presented the prime minister with traditional Iranian gifts of saffron and pistachios, signaling a significant thaw in relations.
While the direct results of the Saudi-Iranian coordination have yet to manifest in concrete political solutions for Lebanon's deeply fractured system, the report highlights a clear indirect effect: a noticeable reduction in political tension across Beirut. However, diplomatic sources caution that patience is required. Whether this newfound cooperation between Tehran and Riyadh will mature into practical, lasting solutions for a nation in desperate need of stability remains to be seen.
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