Mitri tells Iranian delegation Lebanon seeks to free itself from 'any occupation or hegemony'

Amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States over the Strait of Hormuz, an Iranian delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Vahid Jalalzadeh visited Beirut on Thursday. The delegation was received by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri, who stated during the meeting Lebanon's determination to "free itself from any occupation or hegemony."

From Ain al-Tineh, Jalalzadeh said he had conveyed a message from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to Berri, stressing that "Iran continues to stand by Lebanon."

According to an official statement released by Mitri's office, the talks between Mitri and the Iranian official "focused on the future of the Iran-U.S. agreement and its regional consequences, especially for Lebanon," after U.S. President Donald Trump scrapped the protocol agreement signed June 17 on Wednesday, and the U.S. military carried out dozens of strikes against Iran in recent days, with Iran responding with attacks in the Gulf and the region.

"This meeting was an opportunity to stress the importance of peace and stability in the Middle East, which is weary of perpetual wars, and to reaffirm Lebanon's determination to extend its sovereignty over all its territory, in accordance with the principles of full sovereignty and Beirut's will to free itself from any foreign occupation or hegemony," the statement continued.

Jalalzadeh has not, as of yet, been received by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun or Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. However, the two met, at the same time as the Iranian delegation's visit, with U.S. Ambassador Michel Issa.

Nearly 620 square kilometers of southern Lebanon are currently occupied by the Israeli army, a consequence of the Hezbollah front opened in support of Iran on March 2. Since the beginning of Aoun's term in January 2025, relations between Iran and Lebanon have become particularly strained, as the new administration has made Hezbollah's disarmament one of its missions.

Beirut has repeatedly accused Tehran of interference and has taken several measures against the Islamic Republic, including the suspension of direct flights and money transfers, and even declaring the Revolutionary Guard and the Iranian ambassador to Beirut persona non grata.

Iran, Hezbollah's sponsor, also wants to link any end to hostilities in Lebanon to negotiations with the United States, while Lebanon insists on continuing direct negotiations with Israel, which are rejected by the party and its allies. Despite these tensions, the Lebanese state sent Defense Minister Michel Menassa to the funeral of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.