Tehran and Washington in talks on Gaza, Lebanon
Iran’s foreign minister revealed that Tehran and Washington were in talks regarding Gaza and Lebanon on February 10th, according to Reuters.
The US had purportedly asked the Islamic Republic to urge Lebanon’s Hezbollah, to refrain from escalating the Israel-Gaza conflict.
On February 10th, the foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, stressed that Iran’s administration hopes for a political solution in Gaza and warned Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, that launching an attack on Lebanon would be disastrous.
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The foreign minister made the statement after a two-day visit to Beirut, meeting with Lebanese officials, and Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah.
In a press conference with his Lebanese counterpart, Abdallah Bou Habib, the Iranian official said that progress is being made regarding a political solution to the Israel-Gaza conflict. He affirmed that neither Iran nor Lebanon sought to expand the conflict into the wider Middle East.
Bou Habib expressed Lebanon’s desire for a sustainable solution to be implemented ensuring regional peace, within the framework of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, 2006.
While emphasizing the importance of the resolution’s implementation, the Lebanese foreign minister also called for the cessation of Israeli violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied territories, and the strengthening of the Lebanese military.
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Following his discussion with Lebanon’s acting prime minister, Najib Mikati, the Iranian foreign minister remarked that developments in Gaza are leaning towards a political solution, despite Netanyahu’s insistence on “total victory,” and emphasized Iran’s absolute support for Lebanon’s stability and security.
Hezbollah confirmed that its head had met with Iran’s foreign minister to discuss regional developments, especially the Israel-Gaza conflict and its expansion to southern Lebanon.
Reuters
