Lebanese Foreign Minister Yusuf Raji will not meet Iran's newly reappointed security boss Ali Larijani when he visits the country this week, Lebanese media reported, as Beirut seethes over Iran's criticism of its efforts to disarm Hezbollah.
“Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam will convey the Lebanese government’s displeasure with Iranian officials’ statements rejecting Hezbollah’s disarmament, seen as blatant interference in Lebanon’s internal affairs,” Hona Lebanon reported, citing sources.
Founded in 1982 by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hezbollah has long been a formidable opponent of Israel but was mauled by its arch-foe in fighting late last year.
The Lebanese government last week tasked the military with disarming the Iran-backed group, leading to sharp criticism by the Islamic Republic.
Another Lebanese media outlet, Al-Liwaa, reported that the Lebanese Foreign Minister will not meet Larijani and prefers he not visit Beirut.
Larijani is due to arrive in Lebanon on Wednesday after visiting Iraq where he signed a security agreement on Monday.
Ali-Akbar Velayati, a senior foreign policy advisor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, called Hezbollah’s disarmament "a dream that won’t come true" on Saturday describing it as a policy dictated by Israel and the United States.
The Lebanese Foreign Ministry, in a statement on X, condemned the remarks as "a flagrant and unacceptable interference in Lebanon’s internal affairs," saying it would not tolerate such “unacceptable conduct."
The Lebanese government has long been under international pressure to assert a monopoly on arms, particularly from Western states that view Iran-backed Hezbollah’s military structure as a parallel force within the state.
“Hezbollah has no choice but to negotiate with the Lebanese government, as failure to do so would mean preparing for war,” Qassem Mohabaali, former Middle East Director at the Iranian Foreign Ministry, told the news outlet Khabarfori.
