Qalibaf, Berri discuss Lebanon ceasefire as speaker rejects Israel-Lebanon Framework Agreement

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri discussed efforts to end the conflict in Lebanon during a telephone conversation, with both officials stressing the need to restore Lebanese sovereignty and accelerate the implementation of ceasefire arrangements.

According to Iranian media, Qalibaf said ending the war in Lebanon and restoring the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity were among the principal issues addressed during the recent negotiations in Switzerland.

He said these objectives form a key part of the first clause of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding reached between Iran and the United States.

Qalibaf added that Iran’s priority is to end the conflict, facilitate the return of displaced people, end what he described as the occupation and secure Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanese territory.

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He also said the Switzerland talks resulted in an agreement to establish a conflict monitoring unit comprising representatives from Iran, the United States and Lebanon to oversee implementation of the understandings.

For his part, Berri said the outcomes of the Switzerland negotiations serve Lebanon’s interests but accused Israel of attempting to circumvent provisions relating to Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

According to the statement, Berri described the US-mediated framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel as “a conspiracy and a source of discord,” rejecting efforts to resolve the conflict through what he characterised as alternative arrangements.

The two officials also discussed the need to convene the proposed conflict monitoring unit as soon as possible, saying it could help contain the fighting and advance efforts to end the conflict in Lebanon.

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