Lebanon’s National Initiative Movement Calls for Confronting Iranian Infiltration

Lebanon’s National Initiative Movement calls for confronting Iranian meddling in the region. (NNA)
Lebanon’s National Initiative Movement calls for confronting Iranian meddling in the region. (NNA)
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Lebanon’s National Initiative Movement Calls for Confronting Iranian Infiltration

Lebanon’s National Initiative Movement calls for confronting Iranian meddling in the region. (NNA)
Lebanon’s National Initiative Movement calls for confronting Iranian meddling in the region. (NNA)

Lebanon’s National Initiative Movement warned on Saturday that the security of the country and other Arab states has for years been the victim of an ongoing offensive led by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and its affiliated militias, starting with “Hezbollah.”

It therefore called for a national “rise” to fortify the Taef Accord, constitution and coexistence and to confront destabilizing practices on the national and Arab scenes.

The Movement, which was formed in September, condemned “Hezbollah’s” internal and foreign policies and repeated Iranian assaults and conspiracies against Arab security, noting that the majority of these attacks have been launched from Lebanon.

“The previous Lebanese governments had at every Iranian attack inside Lebanon or against Arab neighbors claimed ignorance,” it added.

It singled out the Baabda Declaration, announced in 2011 during the term of former President Michel Suleiman, as one of the only example of confronting Iranian meddling. The Declaration calls for disassociating Lebanon from regional crises.

“Soon after however, ‘Hezbollah’, which had initially agreed to the Declaration, violated it and headed towards fighting the Syrian people and behind them all the Arabs,” continued the National Initiative Movement in a statement.

The Iranian violations continued during the term of current President Michel Aoun, who had repeatedly announced that “Hezbollah” was needed in southern Lebanon, which is a “blatant” violation of international resolutions that protect Lebanon.

It also condemned his repeated declarations that “the party’s militia was needed until the crisis in the Middle East was over.”

The Movement hailed Saudi Arabia for resorting to the Arab League and international community in order to defend its security and that of the Arabs against “Iranian militia infiltration.” It noted how Riyadh had confronted Iranian sabotage attempts in each of Bahrain, Kuwait and Yemen.

The statement stressed that it is “no longer acceptable that Lebanon remain a danger to itself and its Arab brothers.”



Trump Posts Spoof Picture Dressed as Pope

US President Donald Trump delivers commencement remarks at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on May 1, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)
US President Donald Trump delivers commencement remarks at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on May 1, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)
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Trump Posts Spoof Picture Dressed as Pope

US President Donald Trump delivers commencement remarks at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on May 1, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)
US President Donald Trump delivers commencement remarks at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on May 1, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)

US President Donald Trump posted on Friday a spoof picture of himself dressed as the pope on his Truth Social platform after joking that he would like to be the next Catholic pontiff.

The president is seen in what appears to be an AI-generated color image, with his right index finger pointed toward the sky, wearing papal regalia, including white robes, a gold crucifix pendant and the miter hat.

It comes after Trump joked to reporters this week that he would like to be the next pope, just days before cardinals are due to start the conclave to elect the successor of Pope Francis who died on April 21.

Asked who he would like to succeed Pope Francis, Trump said: "I'd like to be pope, that would be my number one choice."

Trump went on to say that he did not have a preference but said there was a cardinal in New York who was "very good."

He appeared to be referring to the archbishop of New York, Timothy Dolan, a theological conservative and fiercely opposed to abortion.

Trump attended the funeral service of Pope Francis last week, his first foreign trip since returning to power.

About 20 percent of Americans declare themselves Catholic, and exit polls indicated in November that they voted around 60 percent in favor of Trump.

Pope Francis had arguably been one of the most powerful moral voices on the world stage critical of Trump.

When Trump first ran for president in 2016, Francis was unsparing on his signature promise to build a border wall to seal off Mexico.

Francis told reporters, "Anyone, whoever he is, who only wants to build walls and not bridges is not a Christian."

Cardinals will gather on May 7 in a conclave in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope.