Representatives from the United States, France, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have met to discuss Lebanon on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.

“Our three countries expressed their continuing support for Lebanon’s sovereignty, security, and stability. As Lebanon’s Parliament prepares to elect a new President, we stress the importance of timely elections in compliance with the constitution. It is critical to elect a President who can unite the Lebanese people and work with regional and international actors to overcome the current crisis,” ministers from the three countries said in a joint statement.

Former minister Saleh al-Gharib, who is close to Lebanese Democratic Party leader ex-MP Talal Arslan, said Wednesday that no one has discussed with him the issue of being appointed as a minister in the new government.

“I don’t intend to assume any ministerial portfolio at the moment,” Gharib told al-Jadeed TV, dismissing media reports in this regard.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) held on Wednesday a ceremony to commemorate the International Day of Peace at its headquarters in Naqoura, South Lebanon.

The Association of Banks in Lebanon is inclined to extend the closure of banks until Monday, al-Jadeed TV reported on Wednesday.

Quoting unnamed sources, al-Jadeed said the decision to extend the strike “came after days from a meeting that was held with caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi, who advised the Association to extend the strike until a security plan for protecting banks is finalized.”

PM-designate Najib Mikati held a meeting overnight in New York with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in the presence of U.S. energy mediator Amos Hochstein.

Describing the meeting as fruitful, Blinken said he discussed with Mikati the need for Lebanon to hold its presidential election in a timely manner and to implement reforms, vowing that the United States will continue to work with Lebanon in order to achieve peace and prosperity.

Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea on Tuesday held talks in Maarab with Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Bukhari, who has launched a series of meetings with Lebanese leaders.

“The focus was on the various aspects of the Lebanese crisis and the current situation, especially that the essence of this crisis’ solution is the presidential election,” Geagea said after the meeting.

Iran has informed the Lebanese delegation in Tehran of its approval of supplying Lebanon’s with 600,000 tons of fuel over a period of five months, al-Manar TV reported.

Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Mujtaba Amani meanwhile announced that “good news will be soon declared about what has been agreed on regarding Iranian fuel and cooperation in the field of electricity between the delegation of the Lebanese Energy Ministry and the relevant officials in Iran.”

Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab met overnight in New York with U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein to discuss the sea border demarcation file, as Israeli media reports said a final agreement is expected within two weeks.

Israeli business news website Globes meanwhile quoted a source familiar with the negotiations as saying that there is “hope is to finalize the agreement within two weeks, but a few contentious items are delaying the process.”

The Ambassadors of the EU and its Members States resident in Beirut, along with the Ambassadors of Switzerland and Norway, met with President Michel Aoun on Tuesday to express “grave and growing concern about the current situation in Lebanon,” EU Ambassador to Lebanon Ralph Tarraf said.

“We urged the President to do his utmost to support and actively contribute to the implementation of the crucial economic, monetary and fiscal reforms that Lebanon has committed to,” Tarraf tweeted.

A U.S. court has ordered Hezbollah to pay millions of dollars in damages to a group of Americans who sued saying they were wounded by the group's rockets during the 2006 war with Israel.

The case was brought under the U.S. Anti-Terrorism Act and alleged that Hezbollah caused the plaintiffs physical and emotional injury and damaged their property. The judge ordered Hezbollah to pay damages of $111 million to the plaintiffs.