Contacts intensified between Lebanon’s “Hezbollah”, Iran and the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), headed by Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil, in wake of Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s resignation on Saturday.
The contacts culminated with a telephone call between President Michel Aoun and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani and later a five-hour meeting between Bassil and “Hezbollah” Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah.
Aoun received a telephone call from Rouhani to discuss the latest developments, reported the National News Agency.
Al-Mayadeen television said that Rouhani underscored to Aoun that the “unity of Lebanese factions ensures that they will overcome external strife and regional problems.”
Meanwhile, Bassil and Nasrallah stressed the “importance of stability, national unity and consensus among all factions in order to resolve the crisis.”
Various online media outlets described the meeting as “good” and that there were no fears over the upcoming phase in Lebanon.
Justice Minister and FPM member Salim Jreissati underlined the “complete coordination” between the movement and “Hezbollah.”
“There is plenty of time to wait for Hariri’s safe return to his country so that we can listen to the circumstances that led to his resignation,” he stated.
He made his remarks after holding talks with “Hezbollah” Liaison and Coordination Officer Wafiq Safa and MP Nawwar al-Saheli.
Jreissati said that the meeting tackled judicial, legal and political affairs, most notably the repercussions of Hariri’s resignation.
Asked by reporters if the “Hezbollah” delegation had proposed an initiative to end the crisis, the minister replied that the party had inquired about various issues.
The secretary general speaks on behalf of the party, he continued.
The party “calls for peace and seeks stability and everything takes place under the authority of the state and the presidency,” stressed Jreissati.
