With new developments emerging from the investigation of Hariri’s assassination, and the punishment of the perpetrators of his crime, state-run media linked Ahmadinejad’s trip to Lebanon with this issue.
In an article entitled ‘Ahmadinejad’s visit to Lebanon; why now?’, published on the eve of Ahmadinejad’s trip to Lebanon, the FARS New Agency affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards Corp, wrote: In response to questions regarding the particular timing of Ahmadinejad’s trip to Lebanon, one must point to indications that have become visible during the past months under conspiracies such as the “International Tribunal into the assassination of Hariri and its first verdict”.
In addition, the regime’s former ambassador to Lebanon Edrisi wrote in a state-run news paper on October 9th: “Lebanon’s situation, especially after Hariri’s tribunal, has become more complex. Especially since it is said that the tribunal intends to introduce individuals from Hezbollah as perpetrators of this crime, and this is considered a red-line for Hezbollah, and Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah’s reflections on this issue have been intense.”
On the other hand, in a speech in Lebanon Ahmadinejad called UN investigations into the murder of Hariri, as being forged.
“Ahmadinejad defended Hezbollah,” AFP wrote in this regard. “He defended a dispute that regards confirmed reports of the role of Hezbollah in the murder of Rafiq Hariri, Lebanon’s ex-premier.”