Lebanon's FM Refuses to Support Arab League Statement Condemning Iran

© Sputnik / Iliya Pitalev / Go to the mediabankLebanon's Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil
Lebanon's Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil - Sputnik International
Subscribe
Lebanon's Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil said that Lebanon does not agree with the statement of Arab League condemning Iran.

A general view shows Arab foreign ministers during an emergency meeting of Arab foreign ministers in the Egyptian capital Cairo on January 10, 2016 - Sputnik International
'War of the Embassies': Saudi Arabia Escalates Iran Feud
CAIRO (Sputnik) — Lebanon's Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil has refused to support the Arab League resolution condemning Iran, an Arab League statement said Sunday.

Arab League member states' foreign ministers held an emergency meeting in Cairo on Sunday over the ongoing diplomatic row between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The meeting's closing statement accused Tehran of "provocative acts," while Lebanon, as well as Iraq, abstained from voting on the statement, reports said.

"We protest the statement due to its mentioning of the Lebanese Hezbollah organization and accusations of terrorist activity. It [Hezbollah] is represented in the country's parliament and government, and thus we demanded removal of the expression for Lebanon's position to be identical with the common decision," Bassil said.

Emirati Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan (C), Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi (L), and Arab League deputy Ahmed bin Helli (R) attend an emergency meeting of Arab foreign ministers in the Egyptian capital Cairo on January 10, 2016 - Sputnik International
Most Arab League States Condemn Iran's Meddling in Arab Affairs
Last week, protesters stormed the Saudi Arabian embassy in Iran after Riyadh executed top Iranian Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, along with 46 other people convicted of terrorism. Nimr had demanded more rights for Shiites, who are a minority in Saudi Arabia.

Shortly after the unrest, Saudi Arabia cut official ties with Iran. Tehran responded by imposing a total embargo on Saudi imports. On Sunday, Iran's Interior Ministry Spokesman Hossein-Ali Amiri condemned the attacks on Saudi Arabia's embassy.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала