Iran: Securing Influence in the Levant

Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi arrived in Beirut May 26 for talks with the Lebanese leadership. With the Lebanese elections only days away, Iran is setting out to secure its militant proxy in the Levant — Hezbollah. Tehran also has become wary of Saudi Arabia's intentions toward the Syrian regime and is signaling to the leadership in Damascus that, unless they pull themselves together soon, Iran will begin moving away from its pact with Syria and establish its influence in Lebanon against Saudi interests.