Iranian people in poverty and officials busy promising support to Lebanon

Officials are promising support to the Lebanese people while poverty among the Iranian people is increasing.

The recent trip of Ali Larijani, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, to Lebanon and earlier to Iraq, not only highlights the regional policies of the Islamic Republic, but also reveals the deep contradiction between the concerns of the Iranian people and the priorities of the authorities. While millions of Iranians are struggling with economic problems, skyrocketing inflation, unemployment, and basic shortages, the country’s authorities are busy with regional maneuvers and negotiations to exploit proxy forces in other countries.

Ali Larijani arrived in Beirut this morning, Wednesday, August 12, and upon arrival at the airport, he said in a speech: "If one day the Lebanese people are in pain, we in Iran will also feel this pain, and we will stand by the dear people of Lebanon in all circumstances."

These seemingly sympathetic remarks were, in the view of many observers, a cover for the main purpose of the trip, which was to exert influence on Hezbollah and use it as leverage in international negotiations, especially those between Iran and the United States. The Lebanese news website Hana wrote that Larijani was carrying messages for Hezbollah that included a request to support the Lebanese government’s positions, with the aim of political exploitation at the regional level.

Larijani continued his speech by stating: "We will always seek to realize the national interests of Lebanon. The suffering of the Lebanese people is our suffering, and the Islamic Republic of Iran will always stand by the Lebanese people."

However, Lebanese analysts consider these remarks to be a form of blatant interference and an attempt to "help Hezbollah" and exploit it in the diplomatic arena. The newspaper "Nidaa al-Watan" described Larijani's trip as an attempt to "take over Hezbollah's card" in negotiations with the United States, and local news agencies called it "shameless."

During his visit to Baghdad on Monday, August 10, Larijani met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani and signed a security memorandum between Iran and Iraq. During the meeting, al-Sudani stated: “We support the dialogue between the United States and the Islamic Republic and emphasize Iraq’s principled and consistent position in condemning Israel’s attacks on Iran.”

Informed sources in Iraq believe that one of the main goals of this trip was to encourage Iraqi Shiite movements to pursue the "approval of the Popular Mobilization Forces bill" in the country's parliament, an issue that is used as a lever for Iran to exert pressure in regional and international negotiations.

Larijani's trip to Iraq and Beirut and his speeches there were met with strong criticism in Lebanon. Some political figures in the country considered Iran's interference in Lebanon's internal affairs unacceptable and declared: "Everyone in Iran should know that the Lebanese do not accept their policies."

These criticisms, along with analyses by Arab media, show that the Iranian authorities' view of the region is more instrumental and political than genuine empathy with the nations. In contrast, the domestic situation in Iran has trapped millions of people in lines for bread, medicine, and medical services, and the economic and livelihood crisis is becoming more severe day by day.

Ali Larijani continued his speech by emphasizing: "Lebanon and Iraq are sufficiently vigilant and courageous and do not need to receive any advice or instructions from Iran."

This claim is in stark contrast to the real messages and goals of his trip. While the country's officials spend time and resources on regional projects and proxy forces, the Iranian people struggle to live in difficult conditions and basic restrictions.

The harsh reality is that Iranian politicians’ priority is supporting proxy forces abroad and geopolitical maneuvers, not solving the domestic economic and social crisis. Diplomatic promises and regional trips, while seemingly sympathetic, in practice reflect a deep gap between political power and the real pain of the Iranian people.