Lebanon’s leading Druze politician said on Monday Saad al-Hariri’s decision not to run in a forthcoming parliamentary election and suspend his role in political life “means a free hand for Hezbollah and the Iranians.”

Walid Jumblatt told Reuters that he was very saddened by the decision of Hariri, Lebanon’s leading Sunni Muslim politician: “We’re losing a pillar of independence and moderation.”