STORY SUMMARY
By Hussein Dakroub
The Daily Star
Lebanese politicians voiced hope Thursday that the nuclear deal with Iran would have a positive impact on Lebanon and the region, as Speaker Nabih Berri offered to mediate in the Saudi-Iranian rift deepened by the war in Syria.
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, right, receives U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon David Hale in Beirut, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2013. (The Daily Star/Dalati Nohra, HO)
However, although the deal between Iran and Western powers that would curb Tehran’s nuclear ambitions has been greeted with relief around the globe, the U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon David Hale warned that Washington would not ignore “Iran’s destabilizing actions in the region” and would continue to counter Hezbollah’s activities.
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati joined other Lebanese leaders in welcoming the deal over Iran’s nuclear program as “an important achievement” that would prevent wars in the turbulent region.
Hale, who had met Mikati to discuss the deal with Tehran, said the U.S. would continue to counter Iran’s and Hezbollah’s “terrorist activities” in the region despite ongoing negotiations with Tehran over its controversial nuclear program.
Hale stressed that the initial plan for Iran’s nuclear activity would not change U.S. alliances and friendships with its allies in the region.
MP Samir Jisr from the parliamentary Future bloc expressed hope that Iran’s deal with the international community would reflect positively on Lebanon.
Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2013/Nov-29/239323-politicians-see-hope-in-region-berri-offers-to-help-in-saudi-iranian-rift.ashx#ixzz2m1OFeWBg
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)
Categories: Arab World, Asia, Iran, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia