Second son of Rafik Hariri, the Leb PM who was assassinated in 2005. He has was prime minister in his own right from 2009 through early 2011. He was born in Riyadh to an Iraqi mother and graduated from Georgetown University. He managed his father's business interests in Riyadh until his father's assassination. When his father died he inherited a fortune of some $4.1 billion, which won't do him much good if Hizbullah has him bumped off, too.on Saturday aims to "create tension in Leb and the entire region".
In a statement on Iran's state news agency, Iranian foreign ministry front man Bahram Qasemi said his country rejects "Hariri's claims against Iran as a repetition of false and unfounded anti-Iran accusations by the Zionist regime, the Saudis and the Americans".
In a surprise move, Hariri announced his resignation in a televised speech during a visit to the Saudi capital Riyadh, blaming Iran and its Lebanese ally, the Hezbollah movement, for his decision.
Hariri said Iran had fomented "disorder and destruction" in the country and meddled in the internal affairs of Leb and other Arab states.
Referring to Hezbollah, whichIran: Hariri resignation aims to stoke regional tension is backed by Iran, Hariri said: "Iran's arm ... has managed to impose a fait accompli on Leb through the power of its weapons" in the last few decades. "They have built a state within a state," he said.