Lebanon's Interior Minister: Iran's Policies Always Pursue Insecurity in the Region

Nihad al-Mashnouq, Lebanon's Interior Minister, sharply criticized Iran's regional policies after returning from Saudi Arabia, describing Hezbollah as an executor of the destabilizing policies of the Islamic Republic in the region. In an interview published on Friday, July 27, in Asharq Al-Awsat, al-Mashnouq stated that Iran has never sought stability in any country it has entered, but rather has become a part of the unrest or a factor of unrest. He claimed that Hezbollah, as an executor of Iran's policies in the region, follows the same approach. The United States has always referred to Iran's regional policies as 'destabilizing actions,' and European countries have stated that despite their differences with the U.S. over the JCPOA, they share concerns about Iran's regional actions. Al-Mashnouq also mentioned that the allegations regarding Hezbollah's actions in Yemen are 'true' and that the recent letter from Yemen's Foreign Ministry to the Lebanese government regarding 'Hezbollah's interventions' is accurate. According to al-Mashnouq, several Lebanese citizens are working in Yemen under titles such as advisors or missile experts, indicating that 'Hezbollah is creating tensions in Lebanon's relations with Arab countries.' His statements come in the context of last week's attack by Houthi forces, allied with Iran, on two Saudi vessels in the Bab al-Mandab Strait in the southern Red Sea. Al-Mashnouq also referred to Hezbollah's presence in Nigeria and its activities there, including training forces and building ammunition depots, as well as thousands of military uniforms sent that were discovered and seized in Kuwait, questioning, 'Do they want to create stability with these actions?' Iran has not yet responded to the recent statements from Lebanon's Interior Minister, but several years ago, when the Nigerian government announced the arrest of three of its citizens on charges of espionage for Iran, it labeled such accusations as 'fabricated by biased security and media circles.' Al-Mashnouq emphasized that Saudi Arabia's policy has changed and that it is now using different tools to confront Iran's interventions and Hezbollah's activities, calling for the formation of a 'comprehensive coalition' with Riyadh aimed at 'creating balance in the region against Iran's increasing influence.' Just two days earlier, Anwar Gargash, the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, stated that his country is ready to send military forces throughout the Middle East to confront enemies and take on 'security responsibilities' in the region. The statements from these two Arab ministers come as Reuters reported on Friday, citing several informed sources, that the Trump administration is working to form a coalition including Saudi Arabia and seven other Arab countries to counter Iran, under a plan similar to an 'Arab NATO.' However, the Lebanese Interior Minister described Iranian officials as 'skilled negotiators' and expressed that he would not be surprised if Tehran, in the situation it finds itself in, 'comes to terms because it has no other choice.' Nihad al-Mashnouq is a member of the 'Future' coalition led by Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri and is considered a transitional government minister following the recent elections.