TEHRAN: Iran denied Monday an accusation from Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati that it was interfering in Beirut’s internal affairs over remarks attributed to Tehran’s speaker of parliament.
On Thursday, France’s Le Figaro quoted Iran’s Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf as saying that his government was ready to negotiate the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which is seen as a precondition for a ceasefire in the ongoing war between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah group, an ally of Iran.
The resolution calls for the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers to be the only forces deployed to southern Lebanon.
In a rare rebuke of Tehran, Mikati accused it of “blatant interference in Lebanese affairs and an attempt to establish an unacceptable guardianship over Lebanon.”
“Iran has never had any intention or (taken any) action that could be suspected of interfering in the internal affairs of Lebanon,” Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said during a weekly news conference.
“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,” said Baghaei, adding that there had been a “misunderstanding” regarding Ghalibaf’s reported remarks.
Iran has in recent days intensified diplomatic efforts, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visiting multiple countries in the region to push for ceasefires in Lebanon and Gaza as well as ways to contain the conflicts.
![]()
Iran rejects Lebanon’s accusation of interference in its affairs: FM spokesman
Short Url
https://arab.news/pb2wx
Iran rejects Lebanon’s accusation of interference in its affairs: FM spokesman
- Mikati accused it of “blatant interference in Lebanese affairs and an attempt to establish an unacceptable guardianship over Lebanon
Iran urges US to drop ‘excessive demands’ to reach deal
- Longtime adversaries Iran and the United States held their third round of Omani-mediated nuclear talks on Thursday in Geneva
- Both Iran and Oman cited progress after the talks, with technical discussions scheduled for Monday in Vienna
TEHRAN: Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that in order to reach a deal, the United States will have to drop its “excessive demands,” after the two sides held talks in Geneva.
In a phone call with Egypt’s top diplomat Badr Abdelatty, Araghchi said “success in this path requires seriousness and realism from the other side and avoidance of any miscalculation and excessive demands.”
Araghchi did not clarify what demands he was referring to, but Washington has pointed to Iran’s ballistic missile program and has repeatedly described Tehran’s uranium enrichment capability as a red line.
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Tehran had “already developed missiles that can threaten Europe and our bases overseas, and they’re working to build missiles that will soon reach the United States of America.”
Also on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran is “not enriching right now, but they’re trying to get to the point where they ultimately can,” adding that Tehran “refuses” to discuss its ballistic missile program and “that’s a big problem.”
Iran has repeatedly said its missile program is part of its defensive capabilities and has ruled out abandoning uranium enrichment, insisting its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes.
Longtime adversaries Iran and the United States held their third round of Omani-mediated nuclear talks on Thursday in Geneva, seeking to avert military escalation as Washington expands its military build-up in the region.
Both Iran and Oman cited progress after the talks, with technical discussions scheduled for Monday in Vienna ahead of a fourth round expected next week.
In a phone call with Egypt’s top diplomat Badr Abdelatty, Araghchi said “success in this path requires seriousness and realism from the other side and avoidance of any miscalculation and excessive demands.”
Araghchi did not clarify what demands he was referring to, but Washington has pointed to Iran’s ballistic missile program and has repeatedly described Tehran’s uranium enrichment capability as a red line.
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Tehran had “already developed missiles that can threaten Europe and our bases overseas, and they’re working to build missiles that will soon reach the United States of America.”
Also on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran is “not enriching right now, but they’re trying to get to the point where they ultimately can,” adding that Tehran “refuses” to discuss its ballistic missile program and “that’s a big problem.”
Iran has repeatedly said its missile program is part of its defensive capabilities and has ruled out abandoning uranium enrichment, insisting its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes.
Longtime adversaries Iran and the United States held their third round of Omani-mediated nuclear talks on Thursday in Geneva, seeking to avert military escalation as Washington expands its military build-up in the region.
Both Iran and Oman cited progress after the talks, with technical discussions scheduled for Monday in Vienna ahead of a fourth round expected next week.
Latest updates
© 2026 SAUDI RESEARCH & PUBLISHING COMPANY, All Rights Reserved And subject to Terms of Use Agreement.