Qatari envoy in Beirut as KSA explores Iran stance on '3rd candidate'

Qatari envoy Jassem Al-Thani has arrived in Beirut and will exert efforts to facilitate the stalled Lebanese presidential election file, al-Jadeed TV has reported.

Al-Joumhouria newspaper meanwhile said “the five-nation group for Lebanon seems to have decided to separate the presidential file from other demands that had been previously raised.”

“It will deal with the presidential juncture separately from the other political issues,” the daily added.

Ad-Diyar newspaper for its part commented on the meeting that was held Monday between the Iranian and Saudi ambassadors to Lebanon -- Mojtaba Amani and Walid Bukhari.

Bukhari “tried to explore Tehran’s stance regarding any possible suggestion from the five-nation group as to a third (presidential) choice” other than Suleiman Franjieh and Jihad Azour, the daily said.

The Saudi ambassador “heard the same and usual Iranian response, which is that Tehran does not interfere in Hezbollah’s choices,” the newspaper added.