Iran as a “Spurned Suitor” in Lebanon

Iran is running into the same hurdles that prevented previous world powers from dominating Lebanon

Can you imagine one of these in Jounieh?

If you haven’t read Neil MacFarquhar’s report in the New York Times about Iran’s attempts to “deepen” its influence in Lebanon, please go ahead and do it right now. It recounts with some detail Iranian frustration with the difficulty of extending its influence beyond the Shiaa areas of Lebanon.

Iran has discovered, like the Saudis, Americans, Turks and French before them, that while you can buy loyalty and love from one or two factions in Lebanon, you cannot do the same with the rest of the population.

In the article Iran comes across as a clueless wannabe benefactor who cannot understand why the Christian town of Tannourine is refusing its munificence, despite the fact that “The Iranian nation offers its achievements and progress to the oppressed and Muslim nations of the region” (my emphasis).

What Iran clearly fails to see is that its Christian allies in Lebanon (the FPM) want their money and political support but they don’t want anything to do with their culture. Iran is simply their enemy’s enemy, it will never be their buddy. Here’s a choice excerpt of the article:

Most of the solidly Christian area’s population was horrified by the prospect that the Iranians would move in, said Mr. Torbay, most likely bringing their mosques, their wives and perhaps even their missiles. […] “We want the dam badly, but we don’t want an Iranian company to build it,” the mayor said. “They are from a different religion, a different social condition.”

The key to real influence in Lebanon is not money, it’s culture and religion. You can greatly influence populations who share your religion (Lebanon has many little Irans, little Saudi Arabias, little Frances and little Americas), but if you want to expand that influence the best you can hope for is a political alliance between your proxies and the leaders of the other factions.

And if you’re strong enough and your power is on the ascendent, you might even get the Druse…