Iranian diplomatic visit to Lebanon in tatters as officials denied access to country - report

Diplomatic row deepens as Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian is denied entry to Lebanon

Lebanese authorities have denied entry to Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, deepening a diplomatic row between the two countries, according to a report by the semi-official Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA).

ISNA reported that Amir-Abdollahian was scheduled to visit Lebanon on Thursday to meet with Lebanese officials, including President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister Najib Mikati, to discuss bilateral relations and regional issues.

However, Lebanese authorities denied Amir-Abdollahian entry to the country, citing "security concerns," according to ISNA. The Lebanese government has not yet officially commented on the incident.

The denial of entry to Amir-Abdollahian is a significant development in the diplomatic relations between Iran and Lebanon. The two countries have had close ties in the past, but tensions have risen in recent years over Iran's support for Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shia militant group.

The incident is likely to further strain relations between the two countries. Iran has already condemned the Lebanese government's decision to deny Amir-Abdollahian entry to the country, calling it a "hostile act."

Lebanese authorities have not yet explained the specific "security concerns" that led them to deny Amir-Abdollahian entry to the country. However, some analysts believe that the decision may be related to Hezbollah's role in the Lebanese government.

Hezbollah is a designated terrorist organization by the United States and other Western countries. The Lebanese government has been criticized for its close ties to Hezbollah, and some analysts believe that the decision to deny Amir-Abdollahian entry to the country may be an attempt to appease the United States and other Western countries.

The incident is a reminder of the complex and often tense diplomatic relations between Iran and its neighbors. Iran has a long history of meddling in the affairs of its neighbors, and this has led to tensions with a number of countries in the region.

The denial of entry to Amir-Abdollahian is a sign that these tensions are likely to continue in the future.