Divergent Statements from Velayati and Hariri Regarding a Key Meeting

Ali Akbar Velayati, advisor to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, and Saad Hariri, the resigned Prime Minister of Lebanon, have made differing statements regarding their key meeting before Hariri's resignation. Reuters reported on Tuesday (November 14) that while Hariri claimed he warned Velayati about Iran and Hezbollah's interference in Lebanon during their meeting in Beirut, Velayati denied these statements. Hariri, who left Lebanon for Riyadh after his meeting with Ali Khamenei's senior foreign policy advisor on November 3, stated that he asked Velayati to stop Tehran's interference in Lebanese affairs. Meanwhile, Velayati claimed, 'Mr. Hariri alleged that he asked me during our negotiations to prevent Iran from interfering in Lebanon's internal affairs, but he did not say such a thing at all, and our discussions were not as intense, severe, and harsh as claimed; all of this is a lie.' The former Iranian foreign minister added in a press conference at the 'World Assembly of Ahl al-Bayt Lovers' that 'not a single word was said directly or indirectly about this {Iran's interference in Lebanon}, and we did not make any threats.' Velayati labeled Hariri's statements as 'Saudi insinuations' and stated, 'Mr. Hariri wanted to mediate between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia, and I responded that we have no problem with negotiations and would certainly welcome them.' This senior Iranian official accused Saudi Arabia of 'not tolerating' a friendly relationship between Beirut and Tehran and expressed hope that Saad Hariri would soon return to Lebanon. However, Saad Hariri has denied Velayati's claims regarding Lebanon's willingness to mediate between Tehran and Riyadh. Hariri's office issued a statement saying that the Prime Minister requested an end to Iran's 'interference' in Yemen as a prerequisite for improving relations between the Islamic Republic and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. According to Reuters, Saad Hariri, considered an ally of Saudi Arabia, referred to the meeting with Velayati in a television interview as his first public comment after his resignation. He stated that he would return to the country in the coming days while warning that Beirut is at risk of sanctions from Gulf Arab countries due to Hezbollah's interference in Lebanon. In his resignation statement on November 4, Hariri mentioned the possibility of his assassination and accused Iran and Hezbollah of interference and creating unrest in Arab territories. Senior Lebanese officials and even figures close to Hariri have raised the suspicion that Saudi Arabia forced him to resign and does not allow him to leave. However, both Riyadh and Hariri have denied this. In this context, Saad Hariri will return to Lebanon on Thursday. Mogherini: Foreign interference in Lebanon's national issues is unacceptable. The President of Lebanon welcomed Hariri's statements regarding his return to Lebanon. France: Iran's non-interference in Lebanon is an important condition for regional stability.