Foreign Ministry slams Iran FM's remarks as attack on Lebanon's sovereignty
The Lebanese Foreign Ministry on Thursday condemned remarks by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who said overnight that the Lebanese government's plan on arms monopolization 'will fail.'
Noting that Araghchi 'tackled internal Lebanese issues that in no way concern the Islamic Republic,' the Ministry said his statements were 'unacceptable and condemned.'
'They constitute an attack on Lebanon's sovereignty, unity, and stability, and constitute interference in its internal affairs and sovereign decisions,' the Ministry added.
'Relations between states can only be built on the basis of mutual respect and reciprocity, non-interference in internal affairs, and full adherence to the decisions of legitimate constitutional institutions. It is absolutely unacceptable for these relations to be exploited to encourage or support domestic parties outside the framework of the Lebanese state and its institutions, and at its expense,' the Ministry stressed.
In an interview on Iran's state TV, Araghchi said 'the stance of Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem and the statement issued by Hezbollah have clearly reflected that Hezbollah will hold onto its arms.'
He added that the Lebanese government's plan to disarm Hezbollah 'will fail,' adding that Hezbollah's arms have proved their 'effectiveness' on the battlefield.
'Hezbollah has managed to contain all the blows that it received during the war,' Araghchi said, adding that the group has 'reorganized its ranks, deployed its forces and appointed new leaders.'
'This organization now possesses enough force to defend itself,' Araghchi added, although he said that "any decision on this matter will ultimately rest with Hezbollah itself.'
'We support it from afar, but we do not intervene in its decisions," he said.
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