Jumblat: Iran May Be Seeking to Alter Taef if it Remains Inflexible over Presidential Deadlock
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat stated that Lebanon should await the outcome of the meeting between Iranian officials and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius to determine whether the election of a president will be facilitated, reported the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Wednesday.
He told the daily: “If the Iranian side does not show flexibility regarding the elections and the cabinet's upcoming session, then it would therefore be attempting to alter the Taef Accord.”
He explained that Iran would be able to make such a demand after being emboldened by the deal it reached with the West over its nuclear program, which is viewed as a “major victory.”
The MP added that “we should wait to see what the Iranian side will ask from Fabius regarding Lebanon.”
“If it harbors goodwill, then it will facilitate the elections, but if it seeks to hit back at France over its rigid stance during the nuclear negotiations, then I do not believe that they will be lenient with Fabius,” noted Jumblat.
French President Francois Hollande tasked Fabius to discuss with Iranian authorities Lebanon's presidential deadlock, al-Hayat reported on Tuesday.
The newspaper said Hollande informed Fabius that he should discuss with Iranian officials later this month the importance of ending the presidential vacuum.
Baabda Palace has been vacant since President Michel Suleiman's six-year term ended in May last year.
Differences between the March 8 and 14 alliance officials have thwarted attempts by the parliament to elect a successor.
Fabius said Tuesday he would visit Iran "next week" after the historic deal on its nuclear program.
Jumblat, who was present in France on Monday with his son Taymour, had held talks with Hollande on the latest developments in Lebanon.
“Never forget that France will always be by your side and the side of Lebanon,” the MP quoted Hollande as saying.
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