TEHRAN: Iran denied Monday an accusation from Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati that it was interfering in Beirut鈥檚 internal affairs over remarks attributed to Tehran鈥檚 speaker of parliament.
On Thursday, France鈥檚 Le Figaro quoted Iran鈥檚 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 鈥渂latant interference in Lebanese affairs and an attempt to establish an unacceptable guardianship over Lebanon.鈥�
鈥淚ran has never had any intention or (taken any) action that could be suspected of interfering in the internal affairs of Lebanon,鈥� Iran鈥檚 foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said during a weekly news conference.
鈥淲e 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,鈥� said Baghaei, adding that there had been a 鈥渕isunderstanding鈥� regarding Ghalibaf鈥檚 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.