Report: Paris, Doha to talk to Iran prior to proposing Aoun for president

French presidential envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian is preparing to visit Riyadh on July 11 as part of a tour of the nations of the five-party committee for Lebanon, highly informed sources said, in remarks to Nidaa al-Watan newspaper.

“Le Drian’s external movements will be accompanied with indirect communication with Iran simultaneously with direct talks between Qatar and Tehran, in order to prepare for Plan B regarding the (presidential) juncture,” the sources said.

Le Drian has meanwhile told officials concerned with the file that Paris has given up the Suleiman Franjieh choice and is “currently exploring the readiness of Army Commander General Joseph Aoun to become a consensual president.”

The French embassy for its part has confirmed that Paris’ vision for the presidential file is still based on an agreement on a presidential candidate, a premier and the new government’s ministerial statement, the newspaper said.

“Embassy officials told those whom they met that Franjieh’s nomination is no longer part of their vision, which had included naming Ambassador Nawaf Salam as premier alongside his (Franjieh’s) election,” the daily added.

Hezbollah’s al-Manar television meanwhile said overnight that “one of the ideas of the French is to hold a dialogue table at the Pine Residence in the presence of Le Drian.”

“It might comprise six participants representing the political parties,” the channel added.