Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, said the decision on whether Hezbollah should disarm rests with the Lebanese government, days after he publicly criticized international disarmament efforts.
“We are committed to what the Lebanese agree upon,” Amani said in an interview with Lebanon’s Al Jadeed TV on Wednesday in a reversal of remarks made last week which caused him to be summoned by Lebanon's Foreign Ministry.
Last week Amani warned against what he called a disarmament “conspiracy,” saying on X: “We in the Islamic Republic of Iran understand the danger of this conspiracy and its threat to the security of the region’s peoples.
"We warn others against falling into the enemy's trap. Preserving deterrent capability is the first line of defense for sovereignty and independence and must not be compromised.”
Amani also confirmed he had not attended the ministry's summons. “I was informed of the Foreign Ministry’s request regarding my posts about weapons, but I apologized for not attending,” he said in Al Jadeed TV interview. “No new date has been set.”
His comments come after Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said last week that he hopes Hezbollah, designated as a terrorist organization by countries including the US, UK and EU, can be disarmed or brought under state control this year, following what he described as a significant weakening of the group during Israel’s recent military campaign.
The Iran-backed group is currently in the midst of a fragile US and France-brokered ceasefire with Israel which began in November. Both sides report dozens of breaches.
