Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is in Beirut to meet top Lebanese officials and hopes “to open a new chapter in relations” with Lebanon as it begins the process of disarming non-state actors and strengthening its national army.
The visit, part of Mr Araghchi's tour of the region, comes amid calls for Tehran's strongest proxy group Hezbollah to disarm in Lebanon - an indication of Iran's uncertain regional footing.
Mr Araghchi met Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.
The Iranian minister's first meeting was with Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji, who is perhaps the strongest critic of Hezbollah in the new Lebanese government and was nominated for his position by the Lebanese Forces – parliament's largest party and an opponent of the Iran-backed group.
"They had an absolutely frank meeting," according to a Foreign Ministry source who did not wish to be identified.
"They discussed Hezbollah weapons, the negotiations between Iran and the US, rebuilding, south Lebanon, and the issue of respecting Lebanon’s sovereignty," the source added. The Iranian FM was receptive to Mr Rajji's concerns and "listened very well."
The Lebanese Foreign Minister's office said Mr Rajji emphasised the importance of securing support for Lebanon's reconstruction and economic recovery "exclusively through the Lebanese government and official institutions."
The Iranian Foreign Minister said Iranian companies were ready to help with reconstruction efforts if the Lebanese government requested it.
Iran, through Hezbollah, has donated money to cover a year's rent and loss of possessions for those who lost their homes during the war with Israel.
A source close to Hezbollah said the visit was focused solely on Iran-Lebanon relations. They said Mr Araghchi's visit had nothing to do with negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme.
"Iran’s role in reconstruction hasn’t changed; from the moment the ceasefire took effect, Tehran expressed to the Lebanese government its readiness to actively contribute to whatever Lebanon needs," the source said.
"Iran’s relationship with Hezbollah is not up for question or debate. It is a historical bond and is treated as such. It has always stood on the side of Lebanon’s strength and resilience," they added.
On the nuclear issue, Mr Araghchi said a new US proposal submitted via Oman threw up "many ambiguities and questions".
Throughout the day, Lebanese officials and the Iranian Foreign Minister repeatedly stressed a desire for a relationship based on mutual respect and non-interference in each other's relations.
Lebanon's Foreign Ministry summoned Iran's ambassador to Beirut in April over suggestions that plans to disarm Hezbollah were a "conspiracy".
Lebanon faces reconstruction and recovery needs of more than $11 billion, according to a World Bank report published earlier this year.
But who will foot that bill remains unclear, with the country bankrupt and the international community weary.
Mr Aragchi had earlier been received on arrival on Tuesday by a representative of Mr Berri and two Hezbollah MPs.
The Iranian minister will also probably meet officials from Hezbollah, the Lebanese armed group and political party. The whereabouts of its new leader Naim Qassem, who regularly gives televised speeches from an undisclosed location, are unclear.
Mr Araghchi last visited Beirut in February to attend the funeral of Hassan Nasrallah, the long-time Hezbollah leader who was assassinated last year in an Israeli bombing on the Lebanese capital.
Iranian support had been instrumental in Hezbollah turning into the region’s most powerful non-state armed group.
But its war with Israel last year has seen Hezbollah’s power significantly weakened, although it still remains a critical Lebanese actor.
Along with the killing of Mr Nasrallah, almost all of Hezbollah’s senior leadership has been wiped out as well as its largest missiles.
Lebanon is under pressure from many in the international community, as well as some inside the country, to disarm Hezbollah.
President Aoun has said he wants all arms under the control of the state as soon as possible, but insists this must be done through mediation and not force.
Mr Araghchi is travelling from Cairo, where he had said Iran is “ready to provide assurances” that its nuclear programme is peaceful, as Tehran and Washington seek to reach a deal on the issue.
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SPECS
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The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
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Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
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Date started: January 2017, app launched November 2017
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
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Volvo ES90 Specs
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AT4 Ultimate, as tested
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Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
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Dust storm
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Teams
Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan
Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
Timeline October 25: Around 120 players to be entered into a draft, to be held in Dubai; December 21: Matches start; December 24: Finals
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)
Brighton v Arsenal (6pm)
West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (10.45pm)
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Newcastle United v Sheffield United (5pm)
Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)
Everton v Liverpool (10pm)
Monday
Manchester City v Burnley (11pm)
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ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
