France's Macron talks about Lebanon with Iran, Israel

By Hajer M'tiri

PARIS

French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday told Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in separate telephone calls that it was crucial to to preserve the stability in Lebanon.

"The president of the Republic recalled the need to preserve the stability and sovereignty of Lebanon and to support the Lebanese policy of dissociation of regional conflicts," read an Elysee statement

It added that Macron had "stressed the importance for the countries of the region to work collectively to reduce tensions".

The French leader also said his country was willing to preserve the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and committed to its implementation, but that "regional and ballistic topics needed to be discussed separately and put into a constructive dynamic".

Lebanon has remained in the throes of an unprecedented political crisis since Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri abruptly announced his resignation on Nov. 4 during a televised address from Saudi Arabia, accusing Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah of sowing “sedition” in the region and “meddling” in Arab affairs. He also mentioned an alleged plot to assassinate him.

Saudi Arabia, Hariri’s long-time political patron, is Iran’s arch-foe in the region.Riyadh supports Syria’s armed opposition, while Iran and Hezbollah both support Syria’s Bashar al-Assad regime.

Hariri left Paris earlier on Tuesday after a three-day visit to go to Cairo where he held talks with Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

The Lebanese president has yet to accept Hariri's resignation. The latter is expected in Beirut on Wednesday for the celebration of National Day.