Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati denounced Iranian statements about Tehran's readiness to negotiate with France regarding the implementation of UN Resolution 1701, and considered this an interference in Lebanese affairs, and requested the summoning of the Iranian Chargé d'Affaires in Beirut.

This came in two statements published by the Lebanese Prime Ministry today, Friday, via the X platform, commenting on statements made by Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, in this regard.

One of the statements attributed to Mikati saying, "We are surprised by this position, which constitutes blatant interference in Lebanese affairs, and an attempt to establish an unacceptable guardianship over Lebanon."

Mikati said, "We informed the Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, and the Speaker of the Shura Council, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, during their recent visits to Lebanon, of the necessity of understanding the Lebanese situation, especially since Lebanon is exposed to an unprecedented Israeli aggression, and we are working with all of Lebanon's friends, including France, to pressure Israel to cease fire."

He explained that the issue of negotiating the implementation of international resolution 1701 is being handled by the Lebanese state, and everyone is required to support it in this direction, not to seek to impose new mandates that are rejected by all national and sovereign considerations, according to his expression.

During an interview with the French newspaper Le Figaro, Qalibaf expressed his belief that his country was ready to negotiate concretely on the procedures for implementing Resolution 1701 with France, which would act as a mediating state between Hezbollah and Israel.

Qalibaf's statements came during his participation in the 149th session of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Geneva, which lasted from October 13 to 17.

In a later statement, Mikati asked his country's Foreign Minister, Abdullah Bou Habib, to summon the Iranian Chargé d'Affairs in Beirut, Tawfiq Samadi, and inquire about what was mentioned in Qalibaf's statements.

Mikati asked Bou Habib to inform the Iranian Chargé d'Affaires of the Lebanese position in this regard.

On August 11, 2006, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1701, calling for a complete cessation of fighting between Hezbollah and Israel, and calling for the creation of an area between the Blue Line - the dividing line between Lebanon and Israel - and the Litani River in southern Lebanon that would be free of any armed men and military equipment, except those belonging to the Lebanese army and the UNIFIL forces.