Synopsis
The Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, was summoned to clarify comments about Hezbollah disarmament, emphasizing the need for diplomatic respect and cooperation between Iran and Lebanon amidst rising tensions.Key Takeaways
- The Iranian ambassador was summoned over remarks on Hezbollah disarmament.
- He emphasized the importance of diplomatic principles.
- Comments were interpreted as a warning against disarmament.
- Hezbollah's leadership firmly opposes disarmament.
- Lebanese authorities seek dialogue over arms issues.
Beirut, April 25 (NationPress) The Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, was summoned by the Lebanese Foreign Ministry following controversial remarks regarding efforts to disarm Hezbollah.
As reported by the National News Agency on Thursday, the Ministry's Secretary-General, Hani Chmeitli, held discussions with the Iranian ambassador, highlighting the importance of adhering to diplomatic principles established in international agreements that respect state sovereignty and prohibit interference in domestic matters, particularly referencing the Vienna Convention.
The Iranian embassy in Lebanon issued a statement indicating that during this meeting, the ambassador offered clarifications regarding a tweet he had posted, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
In his X post dated April 18, the ambassador stated that “the disarmament project represents a blatant conspiracy against nations... When these nations concede to disarmament demands, they become susceptible to attacks and occupation, similar to the situations in Iraq, Libya, and Syria.”
He clarified that his statement was broad and applicable to all nations without exception, including Iran.
Amani noted that this meeting was held as a precautionary measure to mitigate any potential misunderstandings or misinterpretations between the two nations regarding his tweet's implications.
Additionally, Amani stressed the importance of preventing adversaries from sowing discord between Iran and Lebanon, asserting that “vigilance and collaboration are essential to counter such attempts.”
The Iranian ambassador reiterated Iran's unwavering commitment to supporting the independence, sovereignty, stability, and security of Lebanon, along with Iran's readiness to enhance assistance and broaden the scope of bilateral cooperation in various domains.
Iran is known to be a significant supporter of the Hezbollah organization.
Recently, Hezbollah's Secretary-General, Naim Qassem, declared that his group would resist any attempts at disarmament.
“We will never allow anyone to disarm Hezbollah or the resistance; this notion must be dismissed from discussion,” Qassem asserted.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun remarked on Tuesday that any disagreements regarding Hezbollah’s weaponry would be resolved through communication and dialogue.
A tenuous ceasefire has been maintained in Lebanon since November, concluding months of cross-border conflicts between Israel and Hezbollah, which escalated into a full-scale war in September.
Lebanese officials have documented over 2,764 violations of the ceasefire by Israel, leading to at least 194 fatalities and 485 injuries.
According to the ceasefire agreement, Israel was expected to withdraw completely from southern Lebanon by January 26, but this deadline has been postponed to February 18 due to Israel's non-compliance. It continues to hold military positions at five border outposts.
