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Lebanese website An-Nahar reported that heightened security measures were put in place at Beirut's Rafic Hariri International Airport following intelligence reports suggesting an Iranian plane was carrying funds destined for Hezbollah. The incident highlighted the Iranian regime's declining influence in Lebanon and the region.
The Iranian plane, operated by Mahan Air, came under scrutiny after authorities suspected it might be carrying money for Hezbollah. Iranian diplomatic representatives aboard the flight attempted to block a search, citing their status and invoking the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Security tensions have intensified, prompting Lebanese airport officials to call in additional staff to ensure the plane and its cargo are thoroughly inspected.
Despite the initial standoff, no illicit items were found on board the plane. However, two small diplomatic bags containing cash and documents intended for the Iranian embassy were eventually allowed into the country under diplomatic protocols. Lebanese Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi confirmed the search, saying: “Each bag on board the Iranian plane is meticulously inspected to ensure transparency. »
This incident comes at a time when Lebanon appears to be distancing itself from Tehran. Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria and a series of regional setbacks for the Iranian regime, Lebanese officials are reportedly reassessing their ties with the Iranian regime and its proxy, Hezbollah.
Notably, Lebanon recently handed over 70 former Syrian regime officers to Syria's new leaders, signaling a change in its orientation. The move highlights a declining reliance on Tehran's political and military influence.
The airport incident also coincides with recent visits by Ali Larijani, senior advisor to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, to Syria and Lebanon. Presented as a gesture of support, Larijani's trip was widely interpreted as an attempt to limit the damage following Iran's diminishing influence in the region. Observers note that Tehran is grappling with challenges, including the potential disarmament of Hezbollah under UN Resolution 1701 and Syria's pivot to Arab states.
Iran's state-controlled media has sought to downplay these developments, projecting an image of strength and reassurance to its allies. However, analysts say Tehran's diminishing influence is becoming increasingly evident.
The changing political landscape in the Middle East leaves Iran's clerical regime struggling to maintain its grip. Lebanon's actions, including its distancing from Tehran and cooperation with Syria's new leadership, reflect a broader decline in the influence of the clerical regime and its proxies.
