Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. (Credit: AFP)
BEIRUT — Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri told MTV Lebanon television channel on Thursday that he is "200 percent sure Lebanon will not enter the war," following comments from the Iranian government implying it would trigger Hezbollah's involvement in the war with Israel, should the United States get directly involved.
"I am 200% sure Lebanon will not enter a war," Berri told the channel, "because it has no interest in doing so and would pay a heavy price."
"Iran does not need us," he added. "It is Israel that needs support."
U.S. President Donald Trump is currently weighing his options with regard to direct American military involvement on Israel's behalf, with the White House having announced Thursday that he could take up to two weeks to decide whether to send diplomats or bombers to the Middle East.
Berri met Thomas Barrack, the Lebanese-American U.S. ambassador to Turkey and special envoy for Syria, on Thursday during his official visit to Beirut. After their meeting at Ain al-Tineh, Barrack warned that "if Hezbollah engages in the war [between Israel and Iran], it would be a very bad decision."
Also on Thursday, Hezbollah hinted at possible "disastrous consequences" to the "stupid and reckless" death threats from Israel and the United States against Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Hezbollah has thus far maintained its distance from the war between Israel and Iran, its sponsor and close ally. Following Israel's surprise attack on Iran last Friday, igniting the conflict and wiping out more than 20 of the regime's top brass, Hezbollah came out in support of Tehran but indicated that it had no intention of launching an attack against Israel on Iran's behalf.
The party has been undertaking discussions with President Joseph Aoun on its disarmament, as part of the relatively new Lebanese government's intentions to gain a state monopoly on weapons in the country.
