Michel Suleiman
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Iran Ambassador Says Presidential Election a Local Issue

Iran's Ambassador to Beirut Mohammed Fathali has stressed that it was up to Lebanon's rival leaders to resolve the country's presidential deadlock.

“This is an internal Lebanese issue,” the diplomat told al-Akhbar newspaper in an interview published on Friday.

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Berri Says Cabinet Red Line, Lebanese Should not Wait for Solution from Abroad

Speaker Nabih Berri has reiterated that the government of Prime Minister Tammam Salam is a red line, urging Lebanon's rival officials not to wait for the Iran nuclear deal to resolve the country's crises.

“Bringing down the cabinet means abolishing the country. This cannot take place,” Berri told his visitors, according to al-Joumhouria daily published on Friday.

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Sources: Iran Not Ready to Resolve Baabda Crisis despite French Pressure

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius has urged his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif to exert efforts to end Lebanon's presidential crisis, informed sources said.

The Iranian sources told pan-Arab daily al-Hayat published on Thursday that Fabius told Zarif about the importance of contacting Lebanese parties that are allied with Iran to urge them to find a solution to the deadlock.

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Asiri Throws Support behind Salam amid Resignation Rumors

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awadh Asiri has said he informed Prime Minister Tammam Salam that Riyadh is keen on Lebanon's constitutional institutions after reports that the PM was mulling to resign.

In remarks to al-Joumhouria daily published Wednesday, Asiri said: “I stressed to him (Salam) that the Kingdom is keen on the continued functioning of state institutions, chiefly the premiership.”

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Nasrallah Says No Change in Ties with Iran after Nuclear Deal, Urges Mustaqbal to Listen to FPM's Demands

Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah stressed Saturday that newly issued sanctions by the U.S. against the party's officials were only aimed at targeting the Lebanese in general and that Iran's support for Hizbullah would not change following a nuclear deal with it.

“Sanctions on Hizbullah members don't make a difference because they neither have money nor have made deposits in banks worldwide,” Nasrallah said at the graduation ceremony of the sons and daughters of Hizbullah martyrs.

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Grand Serail Officials Pessimistic on Solution to Controversial Issues

Officials at the Grand Serail have warned that the government would not be able to resolve major controversial issues over lack of harmony among its members.

“Delusional are those who think that this cabinet will resolve big differences,” the officials, who were not identified, told al-Joumhouria daily published on Friday.

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Bkirki Officials Say No Christian Rights Before Election of President

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi has stressed that Christians will not be granted all their rights if a new president was not elected, Bkirki officials said.

The sources told al-Mustaqbal daily published on Friday that al-Rahi has informed all officials who have recently met him that “there is no solution to the rights of Christians before a head of state is elected.”

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Geagea Blames Iran for Baabda Vacuum

Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea, a candidate for the country's top Christian post, has accused Iran of causing Lebanon's presidential deadlock.

“Iran is responsible for the obstruction of the presidential elections in Lebanon,” Geagea told pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat in an interview published on Tuesday.

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Report: Fabius Tasked to Discuss Baabda Vacuum during Tehran Visit

French President Francois Hollande has tasked Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius to discuss with Iranian authorities Lebanon's presidential deadlock, pan-Arab daily 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.

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Officials: 'No Solution, No Settlement' on Cabinet Crisis

The cabinet is set to meet on Thursday but its bickering parties have not yet reached a settlement to avoid a growing crisis, government officials told al-Mustaqbal daily.

The officials, who were not identified, said: “So far, there is no solution, nor a proposal, nor any settlement.”

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