Lebanese President Rejects Foreign Interference Amid Iranian Official’s Visit
- Victor Nwoko
- Aug 13
- 2 min read
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has reaffirmed Lebanon’s rejection of any foreign interference in its internal affairs, stressing the nation’s commitment to stability and security for the benefit of its people. His remarks came during a meeting in Beirut with Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, marking the highest-level Iranian visit since the Lebanese government voted last week in favor of a U.S.-backed plan to disarm Hezbollah by year’s end and implement a ceasefire with Israel.
The controversial disarmament plan, strongly opposed by Tehran, has been met with outright refusal by Hezbollah, which has vowed to keep its weapons. International pressure on Lebanon to rein in the Iran-backed militant group has intensified following a 14-month war with Israel that ended with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in November.
“Lebanon desires cooperation with Iran within the framework of sovereignty and friendship that are based on mutual respect,” Aoun said, emphasizing that Lebanese-Iranian ties should serve the interests of all Lebanese people, not a single religious faction. His comments also served as a rebuke to recent statements from Iranian officials perceived as favoring Hezbollah over the broader Lebanese public.
Speaking after talks with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Larijani insisted that Iran does not interfere in Lebanon’s internal affairs, accusing the United States of directing the Lebanese government to carry out “a foreign plan.” He reiterated Iran’s rejection of the disarmament proposal, insisting such a move should be the result of internal dialogue between Beirut and Hezbollah. Larijani also pledged Tehran’s support if Lebanon faces renewed Israeli aggression, provided Beirut requests assistance.
Larijani’s arrival at Rafik Hariri International Airport was met by hundreds of Hezbollah supporters chanting anti-American slogans and waving Iranian flags alongside the group’s yellow banners. The scene underscored the enduring alliance between Tehran and Hezbollah, forged over four decades of financial and military support amounting to billions of dollars. However, the group has been severely weakened by the recent war, which killed over 4,000 people, displaced more than 1 million, and inflicted $11 billion in reconstruction costs, according to the World Bank.
Tensions escalated last week when Ali Akbar Velayati, senior adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, voiced strong opposition to Hezbollah’s disarmament. Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi swiftly condemned the remarks as “a flagrant and unacceptable interference in Lebanon’s internal affairs.”
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