Expert: Attacks on Lebanese Shias are an attempt to suppress Iran's interests

• Thursday, August 16, 19:15

 The attacks on the Lebanese Shias are an attempt to suppress Iran's interests from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain at the USA's instigation, political expert Sergey Shakaryants told ArmInfo.   

The situation in the Shi'ite regions of Lebanon has become very tense after the Aug 14 statements on the death of 11 Shi'ite pilgrims, who were taken hostage on May 22 northwards from Aleppo when returning from Iran via the Syrian-Turkish border. 

Shakaryants said that one cannot speak of an inter-religious or, in this case, inter-confessional conflict. The matter concerns a veiled, indirect attack on the Iranian factor given that Iran is a Shi'ite state. "The group of bandits ruling in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain with the support of their Washington masters seeks to fragment Lebanon, Syria and, eventually, Iran, dreaming to revive the caliphate. But they forget that the pressure on the Shi'ite element
may lead to the spring effect, especially given the presence of the 25- million Shi'ite population in Turkey", he said.