Israel seeking to create tensions in Middle East: Iran official

A senior Iranian official says the Israeli regime seeks to create crisis and tensions in the Middle East in a bid to catalyze partition of regional countries.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the Iranian parliament speaker’s special advisor on international affairs, made the comment during a meeting with Lebanese Ambassador to Tehran Fadi Haj Ali on Wednesday.

The Iranian official pointed to Riyadh’s “unconstructive” behavior in the region and ambiguities surrounding Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s resignation, saying the latest developments in Lebanon have “increased political unity” and neutralized plots by Lebanon’s enemies.

In a shock announcement from the Saudi capital of Riyadh on November 4, Hariri resigned as Lebanon’s prime minister, accusing Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement of meddling in the Arab countries’ affairs; an allegation the two have rejected.

The Lebanese prime minister announced his resignation while on a visit to Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun has accused Saudi Arabia of detaining the prime minister, saying he considered it an “act of aggression” against Lebanon.

Aoun also said Hariri should return to Lebanon to present his resignation or withdraw it, or to discuss the reasons for it.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Amir-Abdollahian also reaffirmed Iran’s support for the resistance front in the face of Israeli acts of aggression and in the fight against terrorism.

The Lebanese envoy, for his part, said Beirut was keen to boost relations with all nations except for the Israeli regime, welcoming further expansion of ties with Tehran.

He added that Iran’s constructive role in the region was an undeniable reality.

‘Regional countries’ breakup to hurt all Muslim states’ 

Separately on Wednesday, Amir-Abdollahian held a meeting with Palestinian Ambassador to Tehran Salah al-Zawawi, during which he warned about a plot to break up regional countries, saying it would hurt all Muslim states.

“Through active support for terrorism and pursuing a plan to partition Muslims countries, Zionists seek to make their malicious dreams come true in the region,” he said.

The Iranian official said the Israeli regime was the main stakeholder in creating new tensions in the region, adding that Saudi Arabia and Bahrain were making a “strategic mistake” in seeking to form a close bond with the regime in Tel Aviv.

Zawawi, for his part, lauded Iran’s support for the Palestinian nation.

He said Israel and certain Western countries were steering the plot for creating rift in the Muslim world.