Iranian ambassador to Lebanon Mojtaba Amani. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — The Iranian ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, told local television station Al Jadeed on Wednesday that he received a summons from the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding his tweets about weapons, but he could not attend today because he "was busy."
Last Friday, the ambassador described the disarmament agenda as a "clear conspiracy" against nations, criticizing U.S. policies and warning against the erosion of "national defense capabilities."
Discussions around disarmament have intensified since the war between Hezbollah and Israel, which spanned from Oct. 8, 2023, to Nov. 27, 2024. Hezbollah emerged significantly weakened after many of its senior leaders and thousands of its fighters were killed, and much of its rocket arsenal destroyed.
Amani added on Wednesday that he visited Lebanon's foreign minister, Joe Rajji, upon assuming his duties, adding that he "will work to arrange a new appointment."
Regarding handing over the weapons of Hezbollah, the ambassador said that Iran is "committed to what the Lebanese agree on."
"Hezbollah and Hamas have not been defeated," Amani added.
Moreover, the ambassador said that Iran wants to "participate in supporting the Lebanese people affected by the Israeli aggression" and is "communicating with international organizations in this regard."
"We seek to cooperate with the Lebanese government with the aim of reconstruction," he added.
Amani noted that Tehran had not yet extended an official invitation to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to visit Iran, adding that his country "understands the Lebanese circumstances."
In September 2024, when Hezbollah members' communication devices exploded simultaneously, killing dozens across Lebanon and wounding thousands, Amani was injured in the face by the explosion of his pager.
"The pager that blew me up was in my office and its purpose was to warn of an attack", Amani told Al Jadeed on Wednesday.
More than a month after the pager attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly acknowledged, for the first time, that Israel was responsible for the coordinated explosions.
