Iran Tracker

Reaction to June 2009 Iranian Presidential Election:

In June 2009, Lebanese President Michel Suleiman congratulated Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on his re-election. In his phone call, Suleiman expressed his hope that Iran and Lebanon will continue to expand their mutual relations.[1] Following a partial recount of the election results, completed on June 29, 2009, Suleiman again offered his congratulations and stated that the people and government of Lebanon were “thrilled” by Ahmadinejad’s re-election.[2] In July 2009, Lebanese Hezbollah issued an announcement via its office in Tehran, stating that the Iranian-backed organization “congratulate[s] the Iranian nation for marking a historic and epic moment through the participation of 40 million of its people in the recent presidential elections, and ask[s] God Almighty to add to the dignity of this nation and its wise leader day after day.” Hezbollah also denied reports that members of Hezbollah participated in the unrest that followed Ahmadinejad’s re-election.[3]

Nuclear:

Lebanon has been broadly supportive of Iran’s nuclear program, stressing that the country views the program as having only peaceful intentions. The Lebanese government has further urged a diplomatic resolution of the West’s objections to Tehran’s nuclear efforts, with Lebanese Ambassador to Iran Zein Moussaoui saying in June 2010 that Lebanon disapproves of United Nations sanctions against Iran. According to the ambassador, "Lebanon will resist all pressures and sanctions being exercised against Iran and will remain by Tehran's side and support it."[4] Furthermore, in July 2010, Nabih Berri, the speaker of the Lebanese parliament, lauded what he described as the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program, adding that his country will continue to back Iran in international organizations.[5]

The friendly rhetoric of certain Lebanese officials has not always matched the reality of government action, however. In June 2010, Lebanon abstained from the vote on UN Security Council Resolution 1929, which placed additional sanctions on Iranian military and financial activity. Although the abstention was deemed “unjust” by the Iran-backed militant organization Hezbollah, Lebanese State Minister Jean Ogassapian insisted that Lebanon’s non-vote in fact “means that the country rejects sanctions on Iran.” Ogassapian suggested the government was attempting something of a balancing act, saying that “we intended to abstain on Iran’s sanction vote because we should not accept the sanctions, nor do we want Lebanon to confront the world.”[6]

Further undercutting official claims of support for the Iranian program, a Pew Research opinion poll released in mid-June 2010 showed that a small plurality of Lebanese surveyed would support military action against Iran in order to prevent it from obtaining a nuclear weapon. According to the poll, 44% of Lebanese find a military strike preferable to a nuclear-armed Iran, with 37% disagreeing.[7] 

Economic Relationship:

Iran has been a source of funding for Lebanon for many years, particularly since Lebanon’s war with Israel in 1982. Iran provided financial support to both the Lebanese government and non-state groups, most notably Hezbollah, a Shiite political and paramilitary organization.[8] BBC News reported in 2006 that, according to one senior Hezbollah official, during Lebanon’s reconstruction efforts following the country’s recent armed conflict with Israel, Iran provided Hezbollah “with money to help fund its reconstruction activities in Lebanon…Iran also had its own groups in Lebanon, rebuilding bridges, roads and mosques.”[9]  Since the 1980’s, Iran has also been supportive of efforts by Hezbollah to acquire political power in the Lebanese government. 

In the recent years, Iran and Lebanon have taken steps to enhance economic cooperation in certain sectors. While bilateral trade has continued to expand— increasing from $78.4 million in 2006 to $180 million in 2009—the overall volume lags significantly behind that of other regional partners, such as Syria and Iraq.[10] According to the 2009 figures, roughly $85 million—some 47% of the total—consisted of Lebanese exports to the Islamic republic.[11]  The two countries also held a joint economic commission in March 2009 during which they penned five agreements in an effort to further increase their economic cooperation.[12]  As previously noted, Iran has also made substantial financial contributions to Hezbollah. Prior to the June 2009 Lebanese elections, Iran promised Hezbollah $600 million in aid to be delivered through the new Syrian Embassy in Beirut.[13]

In May 2010, officials from Iran’s Saderat Bank and the Lebanese central bank met in Beirut to discuss the development of financial ties between the two countries. During the meeting, Central Bank Governor Riad Salame offered his support for the increased capitalization of Saderat Bank’s Lebanon branches. The sides also discussed ways to utilize $100 million in loans granted to Lebanon by Iran.[14]     

Representatives of Iran and Lebanon signed a memorandum of understanding in June 2010, agreeing to continue holding committee meetings to examine economic ties every four months. The agreement was completed after a follow-up meeting of the sixth joint economic commission between the two countries. According to Deputy Iranian Housing and Urban Development Minister Seyyed Ali Lotfizadeh, one of the signatories of the memorandum, his country is willing to implement several projects in Lebanon, primarily in the fields of education, banking, commercial fairs, and transportation. The minister further encouraged Lebanon to “remove diplomatic and government visas for the officials of the two countries."[15]

[Click here for more information on Iran and Hezbollah.]

Diplomatic/Military Relationship:

Iran and Lebanon have actively pursued positive relations since the Islamic Revolution of Iran in 1979. Following the formation of the Islamic Republic, Iranian religious leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini, began reaching out to the Shia community in Lebanon, offering support for their coreligionists. Perhaps the most prominent example of such support was the alleged deployment of units of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps to Lebanon in 1982 in response to the Israeli invasion; the Guards Corps units reportedly served as defense forces and provided medical facilities to the Lebanese public.[16] The Iranian and Lebanese governments have also maintained military relations in more recent years, with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman requesting, in 2008, that Iran provide his country with “modern medium arms that would help the Lebanese army combat terrorism and maintain national security.”[17] With such a goal in mind, in November of that year Suleiman visited Iran to discuss the further expansion of security ties between the two countries.[18]

Since the Hezbollah-supported March 8 coalition failed to make inroads against the West-leaning March 14 coalition in the 2009 Lebanese general election, some of the organization’s opponents have suggested the electoral results constitute a defeat not only for Hezbollah, but for its patrons, such as Iran, as well.[19] Tehran has subsequently rejected allegations that it, along with regional partner Syria, has worked to hamper the formation of a unity government in Lebanon.  Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, speaking during a November 2009 press conference with his Syrian counterpart, Walid Muallem, stated that the “people and leaders of Lebanon are wise enough to reach a consensus in their country’s important decisions through constructive negotiations…and our regional cooperation continues with the purpose of [creating] stability and peace in the region and strengthening regional convergence.”  Both ministers were adamant that neither government would hinder the formation of the Lebanese government.[20]

During a visit to Beirut in December 2009, Mottaki urged Lebanon and Iran to expand bilateral ties, adding that “we spare no effort to improve peace and security in Lebanon." The foreign minister was in the Lebanese capital for the ground-breaking ceremony of a new Iranian embassy building.[21] Expounding on his November 2009 comments in support of Lebanese sovereignty, Mottaki further lambasted “foreign interference” in Lebanon, saying that that the “nation is capable of solving its own problems all by itself." He added that Iran’s policy towards the country remains to “stand by the side of the Lebanese nation and respect the entire Lebanese political groups” noting that “today the opportunity for cooperation between Iran and Lebanon is greater than ever."[22] For his part, Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri highlighted the need for unity between his country and Iran, suggesting that Lebanon would place the full weight of its diplomatic efforts behind Iran international organizations.[23]

Since assuming office in 2008, the Lebanese president has been notably active in encouraging bilateral ties. Apart from his previously noted 2008 pursuit of Iranian military aid, Suleiman has personally met with several high-ranking Iranian officials, including Mohammad Reza Tajeddini, the vice president for parliamentary affairs. During his January 2010 meeting with Tajeddini, Suleiman praised the state of relations between Iran and Lebanon, describing bilateral ties as "good on all aspects." He further suggested that the two countries should work to coordinate their efforts in the United Nations Security Council, in which Lebanon is a non-permanent member for 2010-2011. Tajeddini, for his part, reiterated Tehran’s support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon.[24] Suleiman also held talks with Kamal Kharrazi, the head of Iran's foreign relations strategic council, in March 2010. The two officials discussed methods for expanding bilateral relations, with Kharrazi also offering praise for the Lebanese president’s success in delivering a measure of stability to the country.[25]

Given both Iran’s animosity towards Israel and Lebanon’s history of conflict with the Jewish state, it is unsurprising that much of Tehran’s political interaction with Beirut is related to Israel and the Palestinian territories. During an April 2010 conversation between Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani and Lebanese Foreign Minister Ali al-Shami, held on the sidelines of a conference on nuclear disarmament in Tehran, the two state officials urged greater cooperation “against the immeasurable number of atrocities carried out by Israel.” Larijani praised Lebanon, calling the country “the symbol of resistance against Israel.” Echoing the speaker’s sentiment, Shami stated that "Islamic and Arab states in the region and around the world need to take a steadfast stance against Israel's evil policies.” The foreign minister further insisted that it would be more proper for the international community to direct sanctions at Israel instead of Iran’s nuclear program.[26] During the conference, Shami also met with Foreign Minister Mottaki, offering his gratitude for Iran’s continued support for Lebanon.[27]

The United States, Israel, and several European countries have accused Iran of providing extensive financial assistance and military training for Hezbollah since the 1980s.[28] Some reports have indicated that the Islamic Republic provides Hezbollah with as much as $200 million annually (a number that, if accurate, would surpass yearly Lebanon-Iran bilateral trade).[29] Both the United States and Israel list Hezbollah as a terrorist entity due to its paramilitary activities and attacks against Israel. [30] The group has gained substantial political power in Lebanon over time, winning more than 10% of parliamentary seats in the 2005 general election.[31] During the run-up to the country’s next general election, held in June 2009, Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah claimed that “the Islamic Republic of Iran and in particular Ayatollah Khamenei will not hold back on anything that could help Lebanon be a strong and dignified state, and without conditions.”[32]  Nasrallah added that Iran is ready to provide support to Lebanon’s military if need be.[33] Although Hezbollah and its March 8 coalition were ultimately unable to improve their showing in the 2009 election, the group retains a great deal of military power, funded in large part by Iran.[34]

Though Iran has consistently downplayed its financial and military aid for Hezbollah, it has nevertheless been open in providing diplomatic and political support for organization. In July 2010, the speaker of Iran’s parliament, Ali Larijani, stated that his country “takes pride” in its support for Hezbollah. Larijani claimed that "Hezbollah nurtures the original ideas of Islamic Jihad." He rejected depictions of the organization as a terrorist group, saying that "the real terrorists are those who provide the Zionist regime with military equipment to bomb the people."[35]

[Click here for more information on security issues in Lebanon.]