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Sanctions Against Lebanon’s Bassil a ‘Message’ to Aoun

File photo: President Michel Aoun and his son-in-law former Lebanese foreign minister Gebran Bassil. Reuters
File photo: President Michel Aoun and his son-in-law former Lebanese foreign minister Gebran Bassil. Reuters
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Sanctions Against Lebanon’s Bassil a ‘Message’ to Aoun

File photo: President Michel Aoun and his son-in-law former Lebanese foreign minister Gebran Bassil. Reuters
File photo: President Michel Aoun and his son-in-law former Lebanese foreign minister Gebran Bassil. Reuters

US sanctions against the former foreign and energy minister, Gebran Bassil, could affect the Lebanese presidency and his Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), which has supporters in the United Sates, observers said.

They believe that the sanctions will have repercussions on Baabda Palace and FPM supporters in the US despite Bassil and several of his followers attempting to send positive signals to Washington by stressing their keenness to preserve a good relationship between the two sides.

“It is still too early to talk about the impact of the sanctions on the relations between the two countries,” sources familiar with the position of President Michel Aoun, who is Bassil’s father-in-law, told Asharq Al-Awsat Tuesday.

The sources recalled that Aoun has asked for documents proving the charges against Bassil and earlier the two former ministers, Ali Hassan Khalil and Youssef Fenianos.

“This request would be followed up through diplomatic channels,” the sources said, although there has been no such contact yet between the presidency and the US since the sanctions were imposed on the Lebanese figures.

The US Treasury Department said in September it had designated Fenianos and Hassan Khalil for engaging in corruption and leveraging their political power for financial gain.

Last week, the Treasury said it had targeted Bassil "for his role in corruption in Lebanon", alleging in particular that he "steered Lebanese government funds to individuals close to him through a group of front companies" as energy minister.

However, Lebanon’s former Ambassador to Washington Riad Tabbara said the sanctions against Bassil are part of a “message sent to President Michel Aoun, including a US pressure to speed up the formation of the next government.”

“So far, it is not clear what are the long-term objectives of these sanctions. But, if we look at recent events, we find that sanctions against Khalil and Fenianos led to the announcement of negotiations with Israel on the demarcation of maritime borders. It seems that the sanctions on Bassil aim to speed up the formation of the government,” the ambassador told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Tabbara said the US is keen on preventing Lebanon from collapsing, adding that FPM followers in the US would not be affected by the recent decision.

Global ambassador at PeaceTech Lab and director for Business Development Nizar Zakka stressed the need to separate between the sanctions and the Lebanese Presidency or the FPM.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that further sanctions could be soon issued against other party leaders, including figures close to Washington.

Echoing the FPM’s position, MP Hikmat Deeb said the US sanctions would not affect the movement’s relationship with the American people and administration.

In remarks to the newspaper, Deeb said that Bassil is the only figure with whom the US administration held talks before imposing the sanctions.

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Can Tourism Help Revive Egypt-Iran Relations?

Egypt’s Sisi meeting the Iranian Foreign Minister in Cairo – Egyptian Presidency
Egypt’s Sisi meeting the Iranian Foreign Minister in Cairo – Egyptian Presidency
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Can Tourism Help Revive Egypt-Iran Relations?

Egypt’s Sisi meeting the Iranian Foreign Minister in Cairo – Egyptian Presidency
Egypt’s Sisi meeting the Iranian Foreign Minister in Cairo – Egyptian Presidency

Iran has reiterated its desire to strengthen ties with Egypt, expressing hope for a memorandum of understanding to facilitate tourism between the two countries.

While analysts say tourism could serve as a key channel for reviving relations, they stress that Cairo remains committed to a cautious, gradual approach in its dealings with Tehran.

Speaking to Iran’s official IRNA news agency on Monday, Iranian Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Reza Salehi Amiri said bilateral talks have been held to resume relations with Cairo, adding that the government’s strategy aims to “reopen the path to Egypt”.

“Egypt, with its population of 115 million, has immense cultural, heritage and religious potential,” Amiri said.

“There is a genuine interest among Egyptians in developing ties with Iran, and both governments have the political will to move forward”.

He emphasized the importance of establishing formal diplomatic relations, noting that “significant steps have already been taken and there are no major obstacles to expanding tourism.”

Amiri said Tehran is eager to sign a tourism-focused memorandum of understanding with Cairo.

“The first round of talks has been held, and the negotiations are set to continue,” he said, calling for “the removal of any remaining hurdles”.

Amiri pointed to a recent visit to Cairo by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, saying the groundwork had been laid for building diplomatic and tourism ties. “With the foreign minister’s presence and efforts, political relations will resume, and that will pave the way for deeper cultural engagement”.

Araghchi visited Egypt earlier this month and met President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. In a joint press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Araghchi described the talks as unprecedented and constructive, highlighting “an advanced path toward cooperation and convergence”.

He said the two sides had agreed to maintain political consultations and work on boosting trade and tourism.

Abdelatty announced the launch of a new channel for political dialogue below the ministerial level to address various aspects of the relationship.

Amiri said Iran has invited Egyptian private sector companies to participate in large-scale tourism projects and voiced Tehran’s readiness to facilitate air and land travel, including joint historical and religious tours.

He called for activating joint hotel and tourism ventures under strategic agreements between the two nations.

Huda Raouf, a political science professor and head of the Iranian Studies Unit at the Egyptian Center for Thought and Strategic Studies, told Asharq Al-Awsat that “tourism is one of the sectors with the most potential for a breakthrough in Egypt-Iran ties, especially with Iran’s interest in religious tourism”.

But she added that Cairo remains cautious. “While Egypt is open to dialogue with Iran on several files, it is taking a deliberate and measured approach to deepening relations.”

Raouf noted that Egypt is in contact with Iran on key regional issues, including Red Sea security and the Gaza Strip, but is proceeding “with calculated steps”.

She said full normalization would only come “at a time aligned with Egypt’s national interests”.

She also pointed out that the easing of entry procedures for Iranian tourists currently applies only to South Sinai.

In March 2023, Egypt announced a package of measures to boost foreign tourism, including a provision allowing Iranian tourists to obtain visas upon arrival at airports in South Sinai.

The plan, which required tourists to travel in organized groups and through pre-coordinated tour operators, was welcomed by Tehran at the time.

Former Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister Hussein Haridy told Asharq Al-Awsat that Iran’s push to promote religious tourism in Egypt is not new. “Cairo continues to adopt a gradual approach to building ties with Tehran,” he said.

“Developing political and diplomatic relations will have a spillover effect on other areas,” Haridy added, but cautioned that progress will unfold at a pace suitable to both sides. He linked any acceleration in bilateral engagement to the outcome of ongoing US-Iran nuclear negotiations.

This is not the first time Iran has sought to establish tourist links with Egypt. Between 2011 and 2013, similar efforts were made but failed to yield results.

The two countries severed diplomatic ties in 1979, with limited relations restored in 1990 at the chargé d’affaires level. Over the past two years, Egyptian and Iranian ministers have held multiple meetings to explore avenues for improving ties.

Ambassador Rakha Ahmed Hassan, another former Egyptian assistant foreign minister, said tourism may be the easiest entry point for broader engagement.

“There have already been discussions about launching direct flights between the two countries,” he said. “There is no fundamental reason preventing a closer relationship”.

Hassan highlighted Iran’s interest in religious tourism and sites associated with the Prophet’s family in Egypt.

Araghchi’s recent visit to Cairo included prayers at the historic Hussein Mosque and dinner at the iconic Naguib Mahfouz restaurant in the Khan el-Khalili bazaar, accompanied by prominent Egyptian figures, including former foreign ministers Amr Moussa, Nabil Fahmy and Mohamed el-Orabi.