French President Emanuel Macron warned Iranian President Hassan Rouhani against interference in Lebanon after several government officials resigned following a deadly explosion near the port of Beirut.
The influence of the Islamic Republic in Lebanon is heightened by its support of the country’s Hezbollah militant group, which Lebanese citizens say is a shadow government controlled by President Michel Aoun, who power remains.
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Speaking to Rouhani on Wednesday, Macron said the region’s major powers should prevent tensions in Lebanon from interfering or escalating as it forms a new government, according to Macron’s bureau.
The French president was the first international leader on the ground after the explosion in the port of Beirut that on August 4 killed at least 220 people and injured 7,000 others, destroying much of the city. His presence stood in stark contrast to the relative absence of Lebanese government officials since the incident.
French President Emmanuel Macron, center, visited the site of the explosion in the port of Beirut, Lebanon on Thursday, August 6. (AP Photo / Thibault Camus, swimming pool)
Macron toured the rubble and promised frustrated Protestants that help would not fall into corrupt hands.
Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab and his entire cabinet resigned earlier this week when reports surfaced that officials had been aware for years of the 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored in the port of Beirut that caught fire. and survived the deadly explosion.
Macron hopes to mediate an agreement between opposing political factions in Lebanon to rebuild the city and restore the government, while also coordinating international aid coordination efforts.
Over the weekend, he chaired a virtual aid conference that raised $ 295 million in pledges.
Macron has also urged both Russia and Iran – key players in the region – to coordinate aid efforts with the rest of the international community to restore stability.
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Instead, the two nations offered bilateral aid instead of participating in efforts through the UN Security Council
