BEIRUT — Amid rapidly unfolding political developments on the Lebanese and regional scenes, Suroyo TV Lebanon interviewed journalist Bassam Abou Zeid, head of the Lebanese Press Club, to discuss the sensitive issues currently affecting his country Lebanon.
Iran
Asked about US President Donald Trump’s decision to refrain from striking Iran, despite several direct threats against Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Abou Zeid pointed out four main factors at play: there is still the possibility of an attack, as evidenced by American naval buildup heading toward the Gulf; Trump is capable of achieving gains through political efforts rather than military solutions, which remains a viable option; if the domestic protests are to lead to the fall of the Iranian regime, the question remains—who would be the alternative?; and Israel itself requested a delay in any attack on Iran due to its lack of readiness to confront a potential Iranian response, as well as concerns over what might follow when the current regime falls.
Commenting on Iran’s statement about either entering negotiations or going to war, Abou Zeid said: “No one is buying what Iran is selling anymore. It once had a nuclear program it could politically market to the Americans and Israelis, as well as ballistic missiles and regional proxies it could leverage politically. Today, that merchandise no longer sells. Iran is left with limited choices: entering negotiations, moving toward calm under military pressure, or facing domestic protests like those seen in recent days.”
An American plan for the Middle East
Regarding Trump’s plan to reshape a new Middle East, Abou Zeid stated that “Trump began implementing this plan in Gaza, then Syria, Lebanon, and Iran. This plan is not limited to the Middle East but extends globally. We saw this in Venezuela, Russia, China, and Greenland. Accordingly, Lebanon must be part of this change, particularly concerning Hezbollah’s militia and the issue of arms control and monopoly. Today, the Lebanese state is required to take further steps to demonstrate to the world that it is aligned with the trajectory of the Middle East.”
Abou Zeid noted that Iran has yet to grasp Trump’s message. The same applies to the Iranian-backed Hezbollah. The Lebanese state, however, has understood the message, but its limited capabilities prevent it from entering into armed confrontation with Hezbollah. Instead, it remains engaged in an ongoing political confrontation. He explained that the convening of a conference to support the Lebanese Armed Forces and Internal Security Forces, as well as the visit of the Lebanese Army Commander to Washington, came as a result of the significant efforts made by the army south of the Litani River, despite limited resources and difficult circumstances. The army discovered a large number of tunnels and missiles belonging to Hezbollah.
Addressing recent threats by Hezbollah’s Secretary General Naim Qassem against President of the Republic Joseph Aoun and the Foreign Minister Rajji, Abou Zeid said: “I believe that Naim Qassem and Hezbollah have started their attack on Nabih Berri [Speaker of Parliament] because he negotiated the ceasefire agreement, despite their full knowledge of its terms and their signature. By doing so, Hezbollah accepted the ceasefire because it needed to catch its breath. Its acceptance of the agreement was before the fall of the Assad regime, as Hezbollah sought to rebuild itself and acquire new weapons.”
Peace with Israel
Abou Zeid also pointed out that Lebanon is engaged in direct negotiations with Israel through the Mechanism Committee, which continues to play its role. In parallel, contacts are ongoing with the United States, France, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Qatar. These negotiations will continue until an agreement between Lebanon and Israel is reached. The decline in Israeli military strikes on Lebanon is due to diplomatic efforts undertaken since the Pope’s visit to the country and continuing to this day, he added.
Syria
On the Syrian front, Abou Zeid stated that Syria and Lebanon will reach solutions and understandings regarding the demarcation of land and maritime borders. Lebanese and Syrians cannot remain in a state of hostility toward one another. The time has come for the restoration of normal relations between the two countries. To ensure this return, several files must be addressed, including missing persons, land and maritime borders, the return of displaced persons, trade and economic relations, electricity, water, and the import of oil and gas.