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Report: France wants to add Iran to five-nation group on Lebanon

France is willing to propose adding Iran to the five-nation group on Lebanon, which comprises the U.S., France, KSA, Qatar and Egypt, al-Akhbar newspaper reported Tuesday.

The daily said that Paris has evaluated the outcome of its envoy's visit to Lebanon and has launched an action plan in two international and local directions.

it went on to say that French President's Personal Envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian who visited Lebanon last month found that it is best to hold a dialogue sponsored by France and the five-nation group, after he heard from Lebanese officials that national dialogue attempts have failed.

Le Drian will visit Riyadh soon and is considering to start a trip to Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S., al-Akhbar said, adding that the former French minister will also hold talks with Tehran.

Meanwhile, al-Joumhouria newspaper claimed that Lebanon has not yet been informed on Le Drian's next visit to Lebanon, doubting that Le Drian will return to the crisis-hit country.

It added that France's priorities must have changed after the recent tumult across France over the fatal police shooting of a 17-year-old outside Paris and that Lebanon can no longer be a priority to the French.


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