It's "a lose-lose situation for Iran"; in Beirut there's "fear and anger": Director, Centre for Arab & Middle Eastern Studies, and Professor of Sociology, American University of Beirut, Sari Hanafi, to Karan Thapar for The Wire.

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In an interview to discuss the crisis in the Middle East, which is in serious danger of spiraling into a major war, one of the Arab world’s most highly regarded Professors of Sociology and the Director of the Centre for Arab and Middle Eastern Studies at the American University of Beirut has said this is “a lose-lose situation for Iran”. Prof. Sari Hanafi says his conclusion that Iran is the loser has not changed after the 180 missiles Iran fired on Israel on Tuesday.



In a 40-minute interview to Karan Thapar for The Wire, Prof. Hanafi spoke about what he described as Iran’s dilemma. He said: “If it responds to Israel’s attacks and provocations, it will be drawn into a direct war with Israel and the US; if not, Israel will continue with striking closer and closer…..and escalating the crisis with impunity.” He called it: “A lose-lose situation for Iran”.



In the interview, Prof. Hanafi said that Beirut, which has been under ceaseless attack night and day for two weeks, is full of “fear and anger”. However, he added Hezbollah remains popular with 60% of the Lebanese people. He pointed out that although Lebanese Sunnis are strongly opposed to Hezbollah’s role in Syria in support of President Assad they do support Hezbollah’s role vis-à-vis Israel and its support for the Palestinian people.



Prof. Hanafi said Hezbollah will get out of the war “very weak” but it will still be there. This is because it’s an ideological concept and that cannot be obliterated or eradicated.



In what to many might sound paradoxical, Prof. Hanafi said “the only potential winner is Palestine … now there’s a hope that their cause may be on the international table”.



Prof. Hanafi said that the Axis of Resistance (Houthis, Hezbollah and Hamas) has been considerably weakened and has lost its potency but, he added, the new axis that has, in a sense, taken its place is the conscience of the world, exemplified by Western public opinion as expressed by university students and the recent vote in the UN General Assembly where 140 countries voted against Israel.



I will stop there. I have given you the main points from the interview. I will leave you to hear Prof. Hanafi say everything else himself.


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