BEIRUT: Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri said on Thursday
Gulf Arab countries were
planning no action
against Lebanon after a political crisis last month thrust it onto the front line of rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Hariri has been a political ally of Saudi Arabia but his coalition government includes Lebanon?s powerful Hizbullah group, an ally of Iran and sworn enemy of Riyadh. Last month?s political crisis, sparked when
Hariri announced his resignation while in Saudi Arabia, raised fear in
Lebanon that Riyadh and its
Gulf allies would take economic action
against the tiny Mediterranean country. In an interview broadcast from Riyadh before he returned to
Lebanon and rescinded his resignation,
Hariri warned of possible
Gulf sanctions on
Lebanon and of a threat to the livelihood of Lebanese workers in
Gulf states.His remarks on Thursday seemed aimed at reassuring that no such action was in the cards. I assure you we have the best relationship with Saudi Arabia, we have a very good relationship with the UAE, and most of the Gulf,? he said at a business conference.
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