French President Emmanuel Macron addresses French ambassadors at the Élysée Palace in Paris, August 28, 2023. (Credit : Teresa Suarez/AFP)
In his annual address to ambassadors gathered at the Élysée Palace, French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday that one of the keys to a political solution in Lebanon "will be a clarification of Iran's interference."
These remarks come at a time when the French envoy for Lebanon, Jean-Yves Le Drian, is tasked with finding a way out of Lebanon's presidential impasse.
Denouncing "the regional destabilization activities that Iran has carried out in recent years," Macron asserted that "re-engagement must also involve clarifying Iran's policy towards its direct neighbors, towards Israel and its security, and towards Lebanon and its stability."
He took the opportunity to "particularly thank Jean-Yves Le Drian for the mission he is leading" and "which consists in finding a political path" in Lebanon.
Macron added: "In any case, I believe that one of the key elements of this political solution in Lebanon will involve clarifying regional interference, including that of Iran."
Le Drian's latest initiative, which aims to bring together all the political factions for a dialogue in September, appears to have been undermined by the sending of a questionnaire on the presidential election to the various factions, which was very badly received by the opposition. Le Drian is due to return to Beirut between Sept. 10 and 12.
The election of Lebanon's next president has been deadlocked since last year, with political parties unable to agree on a successor to Michel Aoun, whose term of office ended on Oct. 31, 2022.
