IRAN: Watching Lebanon from Tehran

Some Lebanese and U.S. officials blamed Iran, the main patron and backer of the Shiite militia Hezbollah for the current unrest in Lebanon.

Indeed, Iranians are closely watching events unfolding in Lebanon and rooting for their allies.

But though Hezbollah might have discreetly sought its backers' OK before taking over West Beirut, the move came as a shock to most Iranians. One team of reporters from Iran's official state-controlled broadcaster only managed to make it across the Syrian border and into the country on Friday night, well after the takeover.

In Tehran on Sunday, foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini called for "national unity" in Lebanon and blamed the troubles there on Israel and the U.S. "We have always warned that the US and Zionist regime and their media are creating the crisis in Lebanon," he told reporters.

Iran's daily Kayhan, a pro-government newspaper, called Hezbollah's move a "clever act" that "thwarted a U.S. conspiracy." It gave a version of events far different to that perceived by many Lebanese:

These clashes started from the time that Fouad Siniora’s government, with the provocation of the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, decided to prohibit Hezbollah communication network and to sack the security chief of Beirut international airport who was one of the members of Hezbollah movement ... After some days of clashes between the anti-government and pro-government forces in Lebanon, the Lebanese people celebrated victory....The Lebanese people congratulated each other for this triumph by giving cookies and holding Hezbollah and Lebanon flags.

The newspaper also praised Hezbollah for refraining from exacting revenge on the fighters it had captured. "During the previous years, in the middle of civil wars and under the same conditions, the warring forces wouldn’t pity the other side under any circumstances," it said. 

—Ramin Mostaghim in Tehran and Borzou Daragahi in Beirut

Photo: Posters of Iran's late spiritual leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (left) and current supreme leader Ali Khameni (sixth to the left) are included in a row of Hezbollah martyrs lining a street in the southern Lebanese village of Yaater, southeast of Tyre on April 10, 2008. Credit: RAMZI HAIDAR/AFP/Getty Images

Comments

[Kiumars]

To: Brook | May 12, 2008 at 03:34 PM
I take it that either you watch too much Foxnews or you are an Israeli, right? By the way you forgot to mention the key cliché word i.e. “Nazi”, was it an oversight or a change of tactic?
And another question for you, why in Lebanon which has a Muslim majority the prim minister and some other positions MUST be of Christians? What kind of democracy is that? Isn’t democracy the rule of the majority? So why USA supports this undemocratic regime in Lebanon?

[Mark Pyruz]

Kiumars:
The blog entry is by Ramin, who is in Tehran, and Borzou, who is in Lebanon.

[Brook]

We're witnessing the true dark and brutal face of Hezbollah. This so called resistance organization is terrorizing their fellow citiens like common thugs. When they run around Beirut putting up pictures of Bashar Assad, it pretty much destroys the argument that they are defenders of Lebanese sovereignty. In fact, Hezbollah laid down and surrendered to the Syrian occupation of their country for 30 years. Some brave defenders. They are a puppet of the Iranian and Syrian regime -- both of which are fascist authoritarian and decidedly undemocratice governments.

[Hadi]

What do you expect from an American daily? Do you think they will say let us devour Lebanon with Israel and their Saudi ally together? If Saudi is a Muslim country symbol, shame at Muslims.

[James]

First USA, Israel and their western allies pushed for Syria to go out of Lebanon so that "the Lebanese would be liberated", then they attack Lebanon, thinking that without Syrians in the country, they could attack and destroy Lebanon and get rid of Hezbollah also!
Well, that didn't quite go to script!
So now, they are trying to get Hezbollah to surrender, so that Lebanon will have ZERO protection and become another puppet under the influence and control of US and Israel!
Oh yes, US also continues to threaten Iran, Syria and any other country that tries to provide support for the independence of the Lebanese government and “nationalistic Hezbollah”.
This is more of the same policies of “divide and rule” by the west!
The problem is, there is a lot of history behind this behaviour and many nations including Iran and Syria can read the US, Israel and western moves.
No wonder why US, UK and France have been outplayed by Iran on every move they have made on this tragic game of World Chess!
Iran clearly does not have the military might of US, but on the game of Chess, they are second to none! Having invented Chess and exported the game to the rest of the world, there is very little that they have not seen or that will surprise them!
OH WHAT STORY OF DEMOCRACY AND LIBERATION being concocted by US!
Only if The Americans were to understand that no amount of power, military might or bullying will make Iran surrender! Nor will it ever make Iran sell their friends and “underdogs” for a few gold coins! Even if their own life was at peril!
This “standing up against the injustice” is the belief, policy and doctrine that is shared by Hezbollah that makes them so difficult to beat!
Iran will ONLY respond to mutual respect. But then, this has always been obvious to anyone who knows anything about Iran and Iranians!

[Myriam]

what is happening is sad and terrible. It involves lives, careers, families who are trying to make a living in Lebanon and lead a normal life in a tough place. Lebanese are constantly taking in bad situations they reject and did not choose for their families and cities.
I think we should respect their suffering before making any general comment.
Myriam

[George]

seeing this stuff happen in my home country is depressing. all because children with automatics think they can cease power with the use of violence and intimidate other politicians and journalists. this fight, if continued through violence instead of democracy, will escalate to an international level. be the 70s civil war all over again. and to the backers of this faction if you think that this regime is the right and only choice i have this to say.... grow half a brain and grow up.

[Kiumars]

To: Mark Pyruz | May 11, 2008 at 04:51 PM
Re: Ramin: from what part of northern Tehran are you reporting from?
Mr Pyruz (your first name is not Iranian so I take it that you are not Iranian); If you are referring to the photo on the page, it is Lebanon not Tehran!

As for the article, it is a shame that we always sit and wait till Israel and USA and Saudi (the axis of evil) start a move and attack us and put us in defensive mode; it is time we started the attack and sock them and put them in defensive mode for god’s sake!

[Alan Rogers]

And this is how it all STARTED in Tehran:

http://irannegah.com/Video.aspx?id=244

[Kringe]

This is what happens when you let a cancer fester in your back yard
Your own army is scared of them
Sad Very Sad.

[liz]

Actually, several non-Muslim groups like a Christian orthodox militia were allied with Hezbollah in this action because pretty much everyone thinks the current lebanese government is a puppet of the US.

Another case of backing the wrong horse.

[Mark Pyruz]

I think you'll agree, the events came as a surprise to many.

Ramin: from what part of northern Tehran are you reporting from?