Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanani in Tehran. (Credit: Atta Kenare/AFP)
BEIRUT — The Iranian Foreign Affairs Ministry on Monday called for the formation of a "strong and national" government in Lebanon. The call comes are it now appears inevitable that Lebanon will find itself with power vacuums at both at the level of government and in presidency — a first in the country's history.
In a press briefing in Tehran, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said he hoped that Lebanon and "all political movements in the country, based on national interests," could form a "strong and national" cabinet, according to remarks reported by Iran's official IRNA agency.
The statement from Kanani came in response to a question in the briefing about the political crisis that looms as Lebanon prepares to enter an unprecedented double power vacuum from midnight Monday. President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati failed to form a government as tensions among them increased in recent months, so as Aoun's term in office draws to an end at midnight and no new president has been elected, Lebanon is on the precipice of finding itself without a head of state and without a fully empowered cabinet.
During failed efforts to form a new cabinet, Aoun accused Mikati of discriminating against the Free Patriotic Movement, which Aoun founded and which is headed by his son in law, in his government lineup.
Earlier in the day, Bechara al-Rai, the Maronite patriarch, received the Iranian ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, with whom he discussed the "latest developments" without giving any further detail.