While considered a coup for the Shiite Muslim movement, the deal probably would not have seen the light of day without the intervention of Iran which - in the words of German mediator Ernst Uhrlau - used all its "powers of persuasion".

Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah paid tribute to the Islamic republic's "cooperation" in securing the deal, which will see Israel free almost 440 Arab prisoners and hand over the bodies of 59 Lebanese in return for Hezbollah turning over an Israeli businessman and another three soldiers who are presumed dead.

"There is no doubt that Iran used its influence with Hezbollah and helped to unblock the negotiations by proposing a two-stage compromise", said one Western diplomat. He was referring to a secondary deal under which Israel has agreed to turn over Samir Kantar, a veteran Lebanese prisoner jailed for life over the murder of an Israeli family in 1979, in return for concrete proof about the fate of missing Israeli airman Ron Arad.

Nasrallah said he expected information about Arad, who was shot down over south Lebanon in 1986, and four Iranian diplomats who went missing there in 1982 and are presumed dead, to be available in two or three months. He said a committee -- which sources in Beirut said would include representatives from Germany, Hezbollah, Iran and Israel -- would be set up in Germany to monitor the second swap.

The deal led to Iran last year signing an additional protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty allowing surprise visits of its nuclear facilities by inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA.) In Tehran, Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi described the release of the Arab prisoners as a "great victory for the resistance movement and the Lebanese people and government."

An-Nahar also highlighted the part played by the German mediator, whose visits to Tehran led to the establishment of a relationship of trust with Iran's top security official Hassan Rohani". (Rohani) agreed to liaise with Hezbollah to discuss conditions of the deal and to obtain information about the fate of Arad," the paper said.

Syria, Hezbollah's other major backer, was also instrumental, diplomat said. "It was in Syria's interest to act as conciliator and to demonstrate its good will at a time when it has announced its desire to resume negotiations with Israel and is under US pressure to end its support for Hezbollah," a Beirut-based diplomat said.

The German pledge is included in the prisoner exchange deal reached by Israel and Hezbollah through German mediation.

The deal comprises two stages. In the first stage, to take place on Thursday, Israel will release 435 Arab prisoners - 400 Palestinians, 23 Lebanese and 12 nationals of other countries - and one German, in exchange for the return of businessman Elhanan Tennenbaum and the bodies of three slain soldiers - Benny Avraham, Adi Avitan and Omar Suwad.

The following day, Israel will also hand over the bodies of 59 Lebanese buried in Israel, as well as any information it has on 24 Lebanese who have been missing since 1982 and maps of mines laid by Israel in Lebanese territory.

Editor’s note: The Paris-based "Iran va Jahan" internet newspaper published this article on 26 January

Highlights are from IPS