Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah. (Credit: AFP)
BEIRUT — Hezbollah’s Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah Tuesday commented on former Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s decision to step down from political life, saying “it is an unfortunate decision.”
Here’s what we know:
• Last month, Hariri announced that he is “stepping aside from political life” and that he is not going to run in May’s parliamentary elections. He also asked “Future Movement Family” to do the same.
• In an interview with the Iranian TV channel Al-Alam, Nasrallah said that his party knew about Hariri’s decision before he announced it officially, and had contacted him. “We urged him not to do it, but told him that if he must take it, it’s an unfortunate decision.”
• The Future Movement, led by Hariri, and Hezbollah are considered rivals in Lebanese politics. The leadership of the Future Movement constantly talks about the disarmament of Hezbollah, calling for it to relinquish its weapons, which has caused tensions between the two parties.