Qassem tells Araghchi Hezbollah to seek stability and liberation

Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem has met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in the presence of Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Mojtaba Amani, Hezbollah said in a statement, without specifying where the meeting was held.

Araghchi had started an official visit to Lebanon on Tuesday and met with President Joseph Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.

Qassem and Araghchi “discussed the regional situations,” with the Iranian minister stressing “the importance of bilateral ties with Lebanon and Islamic Republic of Iran’s interest in helping Lebanon and standing by it in the economic, political and social fields on the basis of mutual respect and boosting cooperation between the two countries,” the statement said.

Qassem for his part told the Iranian minister that Hezbollah “will vigorously work for Lebanon’s rise, stability and sovereignty and for expelling occupation from its land,” the Hezbollah statement added.

A November ceasefire largely halted more than a year of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel including two months of all-out war that left the Iran-backed group heavily weakened.

Under the ceasefire, Hezbollah fighters were to pull back beyond the Litani River in the country's south.

Israel was to withdraw all forces from Lebanon but has kept troops in five areas that it deems strategic and still carries out regular strikes on the country.

Lebanese authorities have vowed to implement a state monopoly on bearing arms amid international pressure including from Washington, though President Joseph Aoun has said disarming Hezbollah is a "delicate" matter that requires dialogue.

A Lebanese official told AFP that Araghchi's visit opened "a new page" in ties based on "non-interference".