BEIRUT: Religions are once again playing prominent roles in societies, especially in the Middle East, said German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier from Beirut on Tuesday.
Addressing Islamic and Christian religious authorities who received him in Lebanon’s Dar Al-Fatwa, he said: “Religious harmony indicates acceptance of diversity and coexistence among the various components of society.”
“Germany has experienced this kind of coexistence and is aware of its importance as a basis for stability and peace.”
Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian, the grand mufti of Lebanon, highlighted the importance of coexistence in Lebanon, and stressed that “Islam has nothing to do with violent extremism or religious terrorism.”
“Islam is based on respect for human dignity and diversity. It calls for peace, love and unity,” he said. “The region’s stability will only result in ending the occupation in Jerusalem and Palestine.”
The German president also met Prime Minister Saad Hariri and discussed “bilateral relations between the two countries and ways for improving cooperation, as well as Germany’s participation in the three upcoming international conferences to support Lebanon — the Rome 2 Conference for supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces, the Paris Conference for supporting Lebanon’s economy, and the Brussels Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region,” according to the prime minister’s media office.
In his meeting with Steinmeier, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri highlighted the importance of holding the vote of the upcoming parliamentary elections on time and promised to prevent anything that jeopardized the stability and unity of the Lebanese people, his media office said.
Germany’s president visited the crew of the German Navy’s UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeepers on their vessel F261 Magdeburg, which is anchored at Pier 3 in the seaport of Beirut.
Steinmeier has also laid a wreath at the Martyrs’ Square in Beirut in the presence of ministers and dignitaries.
President Aoun and Steinmeier stressed “the need to find a political solution for the current Syrian crisis and the importance of Germany’s participation in the three conferences to be held in Rome, Brussels and Paris to support Lebanon.”
When asked about his country’s encouragement for ensuring the safe return of displaced people, the German president replied: “We have thoroughly discussed the situation in Syria, and after several failed international attempts to achieve a cease-fire, I became slightly more optimistic after the defeat of Daesh.”
“There are new developments in northern Syria, but we still don’t know their long-term impact on the security situation,” he said, “We must watch the developments very closely.”
“I think the Lebanese president and government will continue to discuss the return of refugees, but unfortunately, most parts of Syria are not yet suitable for the return of the displaced.”
Germany′s Steinmeier meets religious authorities in Lebanon
Germany′s Steinmeier meets religious authorities in Lebanon
Iran, US to hold third round of nuclear talks on Thursday
- Diplomatic solution with Washington is still within reach, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi says
TEHRAN: Iran and the US will hold a third round of nuclear talks on Thursday in Geneva, Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said on Sunday, amid growing concerns about the risk of military conflict between the longtime adversaries.
The US has built up its military presence in the Middle East, with President Donald Trump warning on Thursday that “really bad things will happen” if no deal is reached to solve a longstanding dispute over Tehran’s nuclear program.
“Pleased to confirm US-Iran negotiations are now set for Geneva this Thursday, with a positive push to go the extra mile toward finalizing the deal,” said Oman’s foreign minister, who acts as a mediator in indirect talks between Washington and Tehran.
FASTFACT
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian voiced cautious optimism in a post on X, saying recent negotiations had ‘yielded encouraging signals’ while pointing to Tehran’s readiness for ‘any potential scenario.’
Reuters reported on Sunday that Iran was offering fresh concessions on its nuclear program in order to reach a deal, as long as it includes the lifting of economic sanctions and recognizes Tehran’s right to “peaceful nuclear enrichment.”
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian voiced cautious optimism on Sunday in a post on X, saying recent negotiations had “yielded encouraging signals” while pointing to Tehran’s readiness for “any potential scenario.”
Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, who leads nuclear negotiations on the US side, said on Saturday that the US president was curious as to why Iran has not yet “capitulated” and agreed to curb its
nuclear program.
“I don’t want to use the word ‘frustrated,’ because he understands he has plenty of alternatives, but he’s curious as to why they have not ... I don’t want to use the word ‘capitulated,’ but why haven’t they capitulated?” Witkoff said during an interview with Fox News’ “My View with Lara Trump,” hosted by the president’s daughter-in-law.
“Why, under this pressure, with the amount of seapower and naval power over there, why haven’t they come to us and said, ‘We profess we don’t want a weapon, so here’s what we’re prepared to do’? And yet it’s sort of hard to get them to that place.”
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi reacted in a post on X, saying: “Curious to know why we do not capitulate? Because we are Iranian.”
He also said in an interview with CBS that a diplomatic solution with the US was still within reach.
Indirect talks last year did not bring any agreement, primarily due to friction over a US demand that Iran forgo uranium enrichment on its soil, which Washington views as a pathway to a nuclear bomb. Iran has denied seeking such weapons.
The US joined Israel in hitting Iranian nuclear sites in June, effectively curtailing Iran’s uranium enrichment, with Trump saying its key nuclear sites were “obliterated.”
But Iran is still believed to possess stockpiles enriched previously, which Washington wants it to relinquish.
“They’ve been enriching well beyond the number that you need for civil nuclear. It’s up to 60 percent (fissile purity),” Witkoff said.
“They’re probably a week away from having industrial, industrial-grade bomb-making material, and that’s really dangerous.”
Fresh concessions being considered by Iran include sending half of its highly enriched uranium abroad while diluting the rest.
Washington has also sought to expand the talks beyond the nuclear issue to cover Iran’s missile program and its support for regional armed groups. Iran has publicly rejected this, although sources have said that, unlike the missiles, support for armed groups may not be a red line for Tehran.
Another topic of friction is the scope and mechanism of lifting sanctions on Iran.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters on Sunday that Iran and the US still have differing views.
Witkoff also said he has met at Trump’s direction with Iranian opposition figure Reza Pahlavi, son of the shah ousted in Iran’s 1979 revolution.
