The Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned statements made by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, describing them as “unacceptable” and a “direct violation of national sovereignty.”
In an interview with Iranian television on Wednesday, Araghchi reaffirmed his country’s support for Hezbollah, while stating that Iran would not interfere in the matter of disarming its Lebanese military wing – a decision announced by the Lebanese government on Tuesday.
In a statement issued Thursday, the Lebanese Foreign Ministry declared: “The recent statements made by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in which he addressed internal Lebanese matters that do not concern the Islamic Republic in any way, are rejected and condemned.”
Such statements, the ministry added, represent “an infringement on Lebanon’s sovereignty, unity, and stability” as well as “interference in its internal affairs and sovereign decisions.”
The ministry stressed that “relations between states can only be built on mutual respect, equality, non-interference in internal affairs, and full commitment to the decisions of legitimate constitutional institutions.”
It also warned against any attempt to instrumentalize bilateral relations, stating that “it is unacceptable for such relations to be used to encourage or support internal parties operating outside the Lebanese state and its institutions, and at its expense.”
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