Lebanese political figures reacted on Saturday to a surprise resignation of Prime Minister Saad Hariri which he announced from Saudi Arabia citing Iranian “influence” in Lebanon and expressing fears of being assassinated.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Saturday, in an unforeseen move, announced his resignation from the Lebanese government, stressing that “Iran's hands in the region will be cut off.”

In a televised appearance from Saudi Arabia, Hariri said: “Wherever Iran is present it plants discord and destruction attested to by its interference in the Arab countries.”

Speaker Nabih Berri said that the best thing in the proportional representation parliamentary electoral law is that it “eliminates” any bid aiming to prevent holding the polls, al-Akhbar daily reported on Saturday.

The visit of Prime Minister Saad Hariri to Saudi Arabia took the spotlight again, mainly because it is his second trip to the Kingdom in a matter of days and came after a meeting at the Grand Serail with the Iranian senior adviser to international affairs Ali Akbar Velayati, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Saturday.

Saudi State Minister for Gulf Affairs Thamer al-Sabhan on Friday said the expected visit of Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi to Saudi Arabia affirms the Kingdom's “open approach.”

Iranian senior adviser to international affairs Ali Akbar Velayati said after talks with Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Friday that Iran “protects Lebanon's stability and government.”

“Iran protects the stability of Lebanon and its government and welcomes its independence,” said Velayati from the Grand Serail where he met the Premier.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Friday likened to “piracy” the attempts of some political parties to strain Lebanon's ties with Arab countries.

President Michel Aoun gears up for a two-day visit to Kuwait where he is scheduled to hold talks with senior Kuwaiti officials, al-Joumhouria daily reported Friday.

Aoun flies to Kuwait on Sunday for talks with the Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah, the Prime Minister, Speaker of the National Assembly, the Foreign Minister and the President of Kuwait Fund for Development.

Amid concerns to maintain a stable security situation in Lebanon, Prime Minister Saad Hariri held separate talks Thursday evening with Army Commander General Joseph Aoun and General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim, al-Joumhouria daily reported Friday.

Discussions focused on the latest security developments mainly on the country's border, and the measures taken in some areas.

President Michel Aoun stressed during a meeting with a delegation from the Association of Banks in Lebanon that the country's new economic vision aims to achieve economic growth, as he was reassured that new U.S. sanctions against Hizbullah won't target Lebanese banks, the National News Agency said Thursday.