Nascent Yemen

Chief of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani said during a meeting with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri that Lebanon should not ‘take orders from across seas.’

Ali Larijani, secretary-general of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and advisor to the supreme leader, visited Beirut on 13 August and met with several Lebanese officials, including the country’s president.

Upon arrival in the Lebanese capital, Larijani was welcomed by large crowds of Hezbollah supporters chanting in support of the resistance.

Larijani also described the Lebanese people as the “shining star” of resistance against Israel. He wished Lebanon prosperity and expressed hope in its ability to make “sound decisions.”

The security chief emphasized Iran’s wish that Lebanon be “strong and independent,” and that it not “take orders from across the oceans.”

“Iran does not interfere in Lebanese decision-making, and those who interfere in Lebanon’s affairs are the ones imposing plans and deadlines on it,” Larijani added, referring to Washington.

Larijani told the Lebanese president during their meeting that “Iran wishes to strengthen its relations with the Lebanese state and people at all levels, and I commend the role President Aoun plays in reinforcing national unity and unifying ranks within all Lebanese sects and among all components of the Lebanese people.”

Aoun told Larijani that Beirut rejects any interference in its internal affairs, saying recent Iranian statements on plans to disarm Hezbollah were “unconstructive.”

Iran’s foreign minister had rejected efforts to disarm the resistance in comments he made last week.

“The Lebanese state and its armed forces are responsible for the security of all Lebanese without exception. Any challenges coming from the zionist enemy or otherwise are challenges for all Lebanese, not just one group, and the most important weapon to face them is Lebanese unity,” the Lebanese president went on to tell Larijani.

The visit comes in the aftermath of a Lebanese Cabinet decision to disarm Hezbollah. The Lebanese army has been ordered to draft a plan to implement the decision and present it by the end of August.

The decision also places the end of this year as a deadline by which Hezbollah must be disarmed, in line with a US proposal.

Hezbollah accused the government of rushing the decision without first holding dialogue with the resistance movement on a national defensive strategy. It said it would “treat this decision as if it does not exist.”

Hezbollah has repeatedly stated in recent months that it would be willing to discuss incorporating its weapons into the state for use in defending and protecting Lebanon.

It stresses, however, that these discussions cannot take place until zionist colony withdraws its forces from south Lebanon and ends its near-daily attacks on the country.

Beirut had initially responded to Washington’s proposal for Hezbollah’s disarmament with demands that Israel withdraw and end its attacks first, but the Lebanese response was rejected.

Iran has supported Hezbollah financially and with weapons since the resistance movement was formed in 1982.

‏“This is not the first time they’ve tried to strip Hezbollah of its weapons,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said last week. “The reason is clear: The power of resistance has proven itself in the field.”

“But Hezbollah’s firm stance, reflected in its leader’s response and the latest statement, showed the group is standing strong and unyielding … [Hezbollah has] fully recovered from the blows of the war, reorganized its forces, and replaced commanders as needed,” Araghchi added.

According to reports from earlier in the week, Salam had been trying to prevent Larijani’s visit from taking place.

Al-Akhbar newspaper cited sources as saying that Salam made the suggestion after he received a Saudi request to do so.

The newspaper added that “Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea is exerting major pressures on Salam to convince President Joseph Aoun not to receive the Iranian official, something that was rejected by Aoun, who considered that such a move would violate all diplomatic norms.”

Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji is also “continuing his domestic and foreign contacts in an attempt to cancel the visit or force Iran to offer an apology over the statements that supported the resistance (Hezbollah),” Al-Akhbar said.

The Cradle Media report

Aoun is lecturing Iranian diplomat on national interference, while himself taking direct orders from US envoy Barrack.

London has refused to release aerial footage of the deadly strikes that killed British aid workers.

The UK government is under renewed scrutiny over its military cooperation with Israel following revelations that it has used public funds to hire US contractors for surveillance operations over Gaza. Reports last week showed that Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft have carried out hundreds of surveillance flights over the enclave during Israel’s ongoing war.

Middle East Eye (MEE) submitted a Freedom of Information request to the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), asking whether it holds video footage captured by RAF aircraft of two Israeli strikes in Gaza that targeted British citizens or aid workers linked to UK charities.

The MoD declined to release the footage, citing national security and defense exemptions.

One of the strikes in question killed eight volunteers with the UK-based Al-Khair Foundation in March, while they set up tents for displaced Palestinians in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza.

The attack resulted in the killing of at least 9 people and wounded several more.

When asked by MEE to comment, the British Foreign Office declined to condemn the killings.

In a separate inquiry, MEE also asked the MoD whether it holds footage from an RAF aircraft of a January 2024 Israeli strike on a compound housing doctors from a British charity, which occurred only one month after the Israeli military had informed UK officials that the site had been “de-conflicted.”

Tensions between the UK and Israel have intensified over security cooperation, as Tel Aviv threatened to halt intelligence sharing in response to Britain’s stated intention to recognize a Palestinian state.

zionist colony officials threatened that the UK “had a lot to lose,” while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused London of “rewarding terrorism.”

Although Mossad has reportedly provided intelligence to British agencies in the past, including information said to have helped prevent an attack on zionist colony’s embassy in London, military collaboration continues.

UK officials recently confirmed that zionist soldiers are receiving training in Britain, and investigations have shown that British companies are still exporting weapons components to Israeli firms, despite claims of a partial arms suspension.

The Cradle Media report