Lebanese authorities searched an Iranian commercial aircraft at Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport on January 2 following intelligence about an alleged attempt to transfer funds to Hezbollah, Lebanese officials said.

Interior Minister Bassem Mawlawi confirmed the inspection of the Mahan Air flight in a statement, saying the aircraft was being searched "bag by bag."

The airline has been under US sanctions since 2011 over alleged ties to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). According to Al-Manar, an Iranian diplomat aboard the flight initially resisted inspection, claiming diplomatic immunity, before security forces intervened.

Sources said the diplomat was temporarily detained after cash was discovered in his belongings, though the amount was not disclosed.

Iran’s 19 Dey reported, “The intensive screening of Mahan Air passengers took place after Saudi television channel Al-Hadath claimed on Thursday afternoon, citing Western sources, that “Iran intends to transfer millions of dollars to Hezbollah via a Mahan Air flight from Tehran to Beirut.”

An informed source at the Iranian embassy in Lebanon provided details to Tasnim News Agency, stating the incident occurred under pressure from the US and Israel, with authorities suspecting money transfers. The source said inspections revealed nothing suspicious.

According to the source, one small diplomatic bag that should have passed without inspection under diplomatic protocols became a point of contention.

The source noted that Lebanese citizens protested both the treatment of Lebanese passengers returning from Iran and the overall handling of Iran.

Tehran-based officials have subsequently stated that the contents were intended for embassy use and protected under diplomatic conventions, with "intensive negotiations" now underway between Lebanese and Iranian authorities, local media reported.

The incident follows recent reports in British media that Iran is seeking to establish an air corridor to Lebanon to resupply Hezbollah after losing land routes through Syria following regime changes in Damascus.

Such activities would violate ceasefire agreements with Israel that prohibit Hezbollah's rearmament.

Israel's military has previously intercepted suspected Iranian weapons flights to Hezbollah over Syrian and Iraqi airspace, forcing several aircraft to turn back in recent months, according to Israeli defence officials.