NNA – Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on Friday directed Foreign Minister, Abdullah Bou Habib, to summon the charge d'affaires of the Iranian embassy in Beirut to seek clarification regarding comments made by Iranian Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who indicated that Tehran is prepared to negotiate with France on the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.

Prime Minister Mikati requested that the Foreign Minister convey Lebanon's position on this matter to the Iranian charge d'affaires. He had previously expressed surprise at Ghalibaf's remarks, describing them as a "blatant interference in Lebanese affairs and an attempt to impose an unacceptable tutelage over Lebanon."

Mikati also emphasized that the Lebanese government had communicated to both the Iranian Foreign Minister and the Speaker of the Iranian Shura Council during their recent visits that it is crucial to understand the Lebanese situation, particularly as Lebanon is currently facing unprecedented Israeli aggression. He noted that Lebanon is actively working with its allies, including France, to pressure Israel to cease hostilities.

"The responsibility for negotiating the implementation of Resolution 1701 lies with the Lebanese state," Mikati asserted, adding, "Everyone should support this approach rather than seek to impose new and unacceptable forms of tutelage, which are rejected on both national and sovereign grounds."

======R.H.