Hezbollah on Tuesday called on Lebanese authorities to mend their relations with Iran and take advantage of Tehran’s support, just days after Iran launched strikes against Israel in response to attacks on Beirut’s southern suburbs.
The appeal came after Lebanon’s president and prime minister urged Iran to stop interfering in the country’s affairs following Hezbollah’s rejection of a conditional ceasefire proposal with Israel.
In a statement, Hezbollah said, “We call on the Lebanese authorities to seize the available opportunity and restore their official relationship with the Islamic Republic in a manner that serves the interests of both countries.”
The group entered the broader Middle East conflict on March 2 by launching rockets at Israel, saying the action was in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader in U.S.-Israeli strikes.
Iran has maintained that any resolution to the wider regional conflict must include a ceasefire in Lebanon.
On Sunday, Tehran fired missiles at Israel after Israeli forces bombed Beirut’s southern suburbs, an area considered a Hezbollah stronghold. Iran warned that it would continue its attacks if Israel persisted in striking Lebanese territory.
However, the latest exchange of hostilities appeared to subside on Monday, when both sides halted further attacks.
Hezbollah described Iran’s strike on Israel as “a defense of our Lebanese people” and said it demonstrated Iran’s commitment to Lebanon on moral, political, and military levels.
The group also urged Lebanese officials to “benefit from this Iranian support to achieve national objectives,” particularly in light of what it described as a new regional framework emerging from negotiations in Islamabad.
Hezbollah continues to oppose recent direct talks between Israeli and Lebanese officials that are being facilitated by Washington.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has been acting as a mediator between the United States and Iran in efforts to end the regional conflict.
On Tuesday, the chiefs of the Pakistani and Lebanese armed forces met in Pakistan and agreed to strengthen military cooperation between their countries.
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