Prominent Lebanese Politician’s Controversial Praise for Iran

A Lebanese politician has sparked a wave of controversy and attracted ridicule after she expressed her admiration for Iran on live television.

Appearing on a program broadcast by Sawt Beirut and presented by Lebanese journalist Tony Khalife, May Khreich, who serves as deputy to the president of the Free Patriotic Movement, Gebran Bassil, said she preferred the Islamic Republic over Saudi Arabia.

Saudi officials immediately responded, with Prince Sattam bin Khalid Al Saud tweeting, "May Khreich, your choice of Iran is the natural and logical outcome of the financial and political corruption of the political elite who have allied themselves with Hezbollah for their own personal interests, bringing Lebanon to the brink of collapse and implosion. You will choose Iran because you will go so far as to subjugate politics to either the weapons or money that come to you from Iran."

Prince Abdul Rahman bin Musaid’s tweet appeared to adopt a more mocking tone: "This is a sad day for us as Saudis... Save this date, October 10... May Khreich chose Iran over Saudi Arabia... My brothers, I know the issue is serious, but with our solidarity we will overcome this painful tragedy.”

The comment comes at a time when Lebanon is still reeling from a massive explosion that killed almost 200 and left thousands homeless, and amid continued calls for corruption to be flushed out of politics and society and for links to be severed with Iran, which funds Hezbollah.

For May Khreich’s part, the Free Patriotic Movement official stated on Twitter that certain opponents were doing their best to distort what she said, and adding that what she had said on Lebanese TV did not represent the views of the party and was her personal opinion.