Iran says open to working with France on truce in Lebanon; Beirut slams ‘interference’

In a rare public tiff between the countries, Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister took issue on Friday with remarks by the speaker of Iran’s parliament, who said Tehran was ready to negotiate with France on implementing a UN resolution concerning southern Lebanon, where Israeli ground troops are battling Hezbollah.

“We are surprised by this position, which constitutes a blatant interference in Lebanese affairs and an attempt to establish a rejected guardianship over Lebanon,” a government statement quoted Prime Minister Najib Mikati as saying.

The speaker of Iran’s parliament, Mohammad Ghalibaf, made his comments in an interview published on Thursday with French daily Le Figaro. READ MORE