Some informed sources expect (and some are hoping for) a last-minute postponement of the scheduled visit by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to Beirut, set to begin Jan. 13. The dates of formal meetings between Zarif and Lebanese officials have already been confirmed, but sources close to the Iranian Embassy in Beirut have revealed to Al-Monitor that the visit is being reassessed by Tehran and its Lebanese political allies, as questions abound about its usefulness and timing.
The sources explained that Zarif’s visit was decided on weeks ago and had been agreed upon in principle during the second half of November 2013. This stemmed from a number of developments that must be analyzed to understand the ongoing exchanges now surrounding the trip. First, when it was initially announced, Zarif's visit was presented as part of a tour that would include all the countries of the region. Within this framework, it was only natural that Beirut be included on the list of destinations. Excluding the Lebanese capital would have raised questions, and eyebrows, while only visiting Beirut would have been strongly criticized. Second, the regional atmosphere at the time was influenced heavily by the Iranian-Western rapprochement, which affected the relationship between Iran and the Arab Gulf countries. Third, Tehran then truly believed, or at least hoped, that Western and Gulf openness toward it would lead to improved relations with Riyadh, an eventuality that Zarif himself alluded to when he indicated, more than once, that he was interested in a visit to the Saudi capital.