Beirut launched a diplomatic broadside against Tehran on Sunday, with Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi calling on Iran to stop interfering in Lebanon's internal affairs, challenging the Lebanese government's decisions and supplying Hezbollah with weapons and funds. His remarks came during a meeting of foreign ministers from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Baghdad, Iraq.
Raggi also called on Tehran and its "proxies" to halt attacks on Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states and Jordan. He stressed Lebanon's commitment to a UN Security Council resolution calling for an end to the attacks and rejecting any restrictions on navigation through international waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
"Convinced that there can be no sovereignty when weapons are held by multiple parties, no stability when decisions are made outside state institutions, and no sustainable development without a strong and capable state, the Lebanese government decided in August 2025 to place weapons exclusively in the hands of legitimate security forces and extend state authority throughout its territory using its own forces," Raggi said.
"Nevertheless, despite our repeated warnings about the dangers of dragging Lebanon into futile wars, Hezbollah dragged the country into two devastating wars with Israel, in October 2023 and March 2026," he continued. "Israel launched a fierce military campaign that resulted in the occupation of large parts of Lebanese territory."
"We condemn the Israeli attacks on Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity, which have left thousands dead and caused billions of dollars in losses," Raggi said. "At the same time, we demand that Iran stop interfering in our internal affairs.
"In June 2026, we reached a trilateral framework agreement with the US and Israel that will lead to a complete Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, the return of displaced residents, reconstruction, the release of prisoners, the restriction of weapons to legitimate security forces and the extension of state authority throughout Lebanese territory."
