Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri's consultation with Iranian officials during his three-day visit to Tehran will definitely have a positive effect on the political climate in Lebanon.

The 40-year-old Saad Hariri, who is the son of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and the leader of the March 14 alliance, discussed important issues relating to Lebanon and the region during to his trip to Iran.
Hariri's first official visit to Iran will have a positive effect on the efforts to create an environment of cooperation and communication between Beirut and Tehran.
Military and security cooperation between Lebanon and Iran, the prospects for a stronger Tehran-Damascus-Beirut axis, and the latest developments in regard to the United Nations Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), which is investigating the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, are some of the issues that were discussed during the visit.
The tribunal was formed shortly after the assassination of Hariri in 2005. But instead of launching a judicial investigation into the assassination, it took a completely politicized and security-oriented path in line with the interests of the United States and Israel.
The court initially pointed the finger at Syrian officials and certain political figures and security men in Lebanon. However, four years later, it has become clear that the accusations were false.
Israel, the United States, and some European countries were involved in the establishment of the tribunal. Saudi Arabia also played an effective role by providing funding for the court.
The tribunal was established in order to create a rift in the Iran-Lebanon-Syria axis and to eventually drive Hezbollah off the political stage and away from security issues.
Unfortunately, certain groups and political movements, intentionally or unintentionally, fell into the trap of regional and global powers by exacerbating the already ambiguous situation in Lebanon and disseminating false information about Hezbollah in the media.
However, the self-restraint of Hezbollah leaders and Secretary General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah's wisdom prevented serious political disputes and physical conflicts from breaking out.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's recent visit to Lebanon helped reduce political tension between various groups, and Saad Hariri's sudden decision to travel to Iran was an upshot of the visit.
When Ahmadinejad was in Beirut, Iran and Lebanon signed 15 MOUs on social, political, and military issues, and Iran made a commitment to provide military hardware to the Lebanese government.
On the other hand, Israel's announcement on its conditions for withdrawing from the village of Ghajar in southern Lebanon further complicates matters in the country since the move has political and security overtones.
Israel said that it would withdraw on the condition that the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeepers take over responsibility for the security of the Ghajar region.
But this precondition is in fact a clear violation of Lebanon's national sovereignty since the responsibility for security in a part of Lebanon would be usurped by United Nations peacekeepers.
Lebanese troops definitely must provide security in Ghajar after the Zionist regime's troops withdraw. But the Zionist regime does not want Lebanon to play an effective role in providing security in southern Lebanon.
Another issue that prompted the Lebanese prime minister to visit Tehran was Saudi King Abdullah's recent illness and the prospect of a power struggle among Saudi princes.
Although Saudi Arabia has played a destructive role in Lebanese politics, if a power struggle begins among members of the Saudi royal family, they will be too occupied to interfere in Lebanon's internal affairs.
And thus a good chance arose for the March 14 alliance, led by Saad Hariri, and the March 8 alliance, led by Michel Aoun, to resume political negotiations.
Then Saad Hariri traveled to Tehran to ask for Iran's support and to reconsider his previous political actions against Hezbollah and their effect on the political atmosphere in Lebanon.
Political analysts in Lebanon believe that Saad Hariri will begin playing a more active role in clearing up suspicions about the assassination of his father and may even make efforts to close the case once and for all.
If this scenario comes to pass, all political factions in Lebanon will definitely cooperate with Hariri's government, with no political conflict or extremist tendencies.
Hezbollah, which has denied any involvement in the Hariri assassination, will be more serious about playing a political role and cooperating with the Lebanese government.
Saad Hariri's trip to Iran is expected to have positive results domestically and internationally and will strengthen the Iran-Lebanon-Syria axis in its efforts to respond to the Zionist regime's actions.
(Source: Press TV)
Photo: Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi (2nd R) and Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad Hariri (3rd R) walk before the farewell ceremony in Tehran on November 29, 2010. (Reuters photo)