France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt are reportedly considering a move to host reconciliation talks between all Lebanese political parties in Riyadh, in an effort to break the political deadlock after lawmakers failed for a 12th time to elect a new president. 

The efforts by the four nations to get Lebanon’s key stakeholders - including Hezbollah - round the table in the Saudi capital allegedly came after Paris, Doha and Cairo were dismissed as possible locations. 

“The French envoy (Jean-Yves Le Drian) will discuss the idea with the Iranians and will propose it to the Lebanese parties after Eid al-Adha, seeing as his current tour is exploratory,” according to unnamed sources speaking to Lebanese newspaper ad-Diyar.  

Le Drian - President Macron's new special envoy for Lebanon - is in Beirut this week as France seeks a new push to end a political crisis that has left the country without a president for over half a year. 

France, the former colonial master, retains some sway in Lebanon - but has to contend with a host of other powers, notably Saudi Arabia, which is influential among the Sunni community, and Iran which can count on the Tehran-backed Shia movement Hezbollah.

Former president Michel Aoun's term expired last October with no successor lined up. The bitter divisions between Hezbollah and its opponents now risk miring Lebanon in a protracted power vacuum at the worst possible time while Lebanon's economy continues to freefall.

Macron and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman after talks on Friday called for a "rapid end to the institutional political vacuum in Lebanon".

Saudi Arabia has played an increasingly hyperactive role in brokering peace deals in the region - and is currently involved in hosting floundering truce talks between warring parties in Sudan.