A diplomatic standoff unfolded at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport on Friday when Lebanese security officials attempted to search the security team accompanying Ali Larijani, a senior advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. 

The incident escalated after the Iranian delegation, citing diplomatic immunity, refused the inspection, prompting Brigadier General Fadi Kfoury, the airport’s security chief, to shut down all access to the VIP lounge, effectively barring the delegation from leaving the airport, according to Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International. Airport protocol mandates the conduct of inspections, according to reports. 

Iranian officials denied the standoff, claiming the delegation was received according to standard diplomatic protocols. A member of Larijani’s team told Al Mayadeen that reports of a security inspection were “false” and intended to undermine the purpose of Larijani’s visit.

Ali Larijani’s visit to Lebanon was part of a regional trip, during which he reportedly delivered messages from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei to Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. While the contents of the messages have not been publicly disclosed, Larijani stated they were focused on supporting the people and resistance movements in Lebanon and Syria.