Prime minister walks back resignation

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Saad Hariri walked back his resignation on Wednesday after weeks of intensive international diplomacy aimed at restoring the delicate political balance that has kept the country from being pulled apart by regional tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Hariri’s decision to stay on, provisionally at least, is an embarrassment to Riyadh, which is widely seen as having orchestrated the resignation.

But the kingdom’s increasingly activist leadership — led by the 32-year-old crown prince who is spearheading the kingdom’s foreign policy — can take solace in having revived the conversation about the formidable influence wielded in Lebanon by the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah.

The reversal capped a dramatic 2 1/2 weeks that saw Hariri resign suddenly from Riyadh on Nov. 4, then travelled to Paris, Egypt, and Cyprus, before finally returning home on the eve of Lebanon’s 74th Independence Day celebrations.

President Michel Aoun received him with a warm embrace at the military parade on Wednesday morning, and the two men sat relaxed and appearing to enjoy each other’s company at the viewing stand.

Aoun had earlier said he would not accept Hariri’s resignation until the prime minister presented it in person.

Wednesday was the first opportunity for face-to-face talks.

Hariri later said he presented his resignation, but was asked by Aoun to retract it and allow time for consultations.