BEIRUT - Amidst the hostile propaganda that has failed to present Iran as a marginal party in the ongoing Israeli war on Lebanon, the trip of Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf to Lebanon and his inspection of the bombarded areas in Beirut heartened the Lebanese.

This policy has been underway since the victory of the Islamic Revolution. In parallel, other states have relentlessly colluded to weaken Lebanon and empower the occupiers to breach Lebanon’s security and sovereignty.

Before Operation “Al-Aqsa Flood”, the US-Zionist enemy, with absolute Western support, has been systematically trying to force the peoples of West Asia to accept the “deal of the century.” Iran, however, has aborted this colonial attempt and has exposed the fragility of the occupying entity. Besides, Iran has also helped to bring down the myth of the “Iron Dome” and the Western military superiority after targeting strategic positions inside the occupied Palestinian territories during “Operations True Promise 1 and 2”. (Iran’s retaliatory attack is a legitimate right according to Article 51 of the UN Charter.)

Over the past year, Iran’s diplomacy has further frustrated the Western narratives regarding the Palestinian cause, as it has tipped the scales in favor of the Palestinian resistance on strategic, tactical and cultural levels.

For his part, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s leading of Friday prayers confirmed Iran’s commitment and sincerity to friends and members of the Axis of Resistance. In addition, it demonstrated Ayatollah Khamenei’s wisdom and firmness in confronting the US-Zionist hegemony, emphasizing that Iran will not hesitate to punish “Israel” if it dares to launch any adventurous assault against Iran.
Besides, Iran’s diplomatic efforts have demonstrated Israel’s disastrous failure to achieve the declared goals of the genocidal war in addition to widening the psychological and security crises among the colonial Zionist settlers. This means that the enemy has lost the alleged power of “secure Israel” on which it has always relied to attract the Zionists around the world.

The Iranian diplomacy has also contributed to destroying Ben-Gurion’s doctrine and bringing shame to the elite of the “invincible” army, imposing exorbitant military and security expenses on the main supporter and financier, the colonial U.S.
Whether this war was long or short, it was bound to happen. It is no exaggeration to say that a large part of what is happening was preplanned by the U.S. and Israel. However, the Axis of Resistance with Iran’s support has been committed to the necessity of counter this notorious hegemony since Quds Force commander Lt. Gen.  Qassem Soleimani was assassinated in Baghdad in January 2020.

Qalibaf’s visit highly appreciated by the Lebanese

Qalibaf’s visit is of particular importance as it came amidst extremely complex political and military escalation, and amidst intensive efforts to stop the aggression against Lebanon and elect a president who enjoys the support of all Lebanese after the position was vacant for nearly two years.

A large segment of the Lebanese, except those who back the American-Israeli plan to eliminate Hezbollah, appreciate Iran’s sincere efforts to confront the brutality of the U.S.-Zionist war. They view the visit as the best evidence of Iran’s standing – as it has always been – with the righteous Lebanese resistance. It is a clear challenge to the comprehensive land, air and sea blockade that Washington and Tel Aviv are trying to impose on the Lebanese people, just as they did in Gaza.

Meanwhile, the pro-U.S.-Israel media has spared no effort in a coordinated manner to circulate anti-Iran narratives that falsely accuse Tehran of betraying and abandoning the Lebanese people. Nevertheless, the vast majority of the Lebanese appreciate the Iranian role in curbing the U.S.-Israeli aggression. They highly understand that Iran enjoys exemplary political wisdom and prudence in its foreign policy. Iran knows well that the US-Zionist threat is not just aimed at the Palestinians and Lebanese but at the entire people in West Asia, including the dear Iranian people who are suffering from American-led sanctions.

On the other hand, there are pro-U.S.-Israel mercenary regimes that generously serve these colonial interests and are not ashamed of their complete connection to this vicious axis. We and Iran are in the same trench, which is the Axis of Resistance. It is independent Iran that refuses to be “Israel’s policeman in the region.”

It is an existential war in every sense of the word, and the true victory is for the honest, steadfast, free nation that bravely and patiently resists imperialism. The Iranians along with the Lebanese, the Palestinians, the Syrians, the Iraqis, the Yemenis, and the rest of the free nations are on the right side of history.