Iran has denied accusations from Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who alleged that Tehran was interfering in Lebanon’s internal affairs. The controversy arose after comments attributed to Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, suggested that Tehran was willing to discuss the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which governs the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, a militant group backed by Iran.
Mikati earlier criticized Ghalibaf’s comments as “blatant interference in Lebanese affairs” and an “unacceptable attempt to impose guardianship over Lebanon.” Iran’s Foreign Ministry refuted this claim, with spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei saying “Iran has never had any intention or [taken any] action that could be suspected of interfering in Lebanon’s internal affairs.”
Baghaei added that Ghalibaf’s comments were misinterpreted and emphasized that Iran’s focus remains on regional peace efforts. “We hold discussions with any country that has an initiative and a proposal to end the crimes and aggression against Lebanon and the genocide in Gaza,” Baghaei said.
Iran is bracing for an expected Israeli retaliatory attack following Tehran’s launch of around 200 ballistic missiles at Israel on October 1. Iran earlier said that the missile barrage was in retaliation for Israeli strikes that killed leaders of Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Iranian military.
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