A Lebanese judge on Monday began questioning the heads of the country's security agencies over last week's devastating blast in Beirut as another Cabinet minister resigned in protest.

Judge Ghassan El Khoury began questioning Maj. Gen. Tony Saliba, the head of State Security, according to state-run National News Agency.

Justice Minister Marie-Claude Najm submitted her resignation on Monday in a third cabinet resignation after the deadly mega-blast that shattered the capital Beirut on August 4.

Iran on Monday said the massive explosion in Beirut last week “must not be exploited for political purposes,” adding that the United States “should lift sanctions against Lebanon.”

“The explosion should not be used as an excuse for political goals ... the cause of the explosion should be carefully investigated,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said in a televised press conference.

At the end of a five-day government-led investigation deadline in the Beirut port blast, the investigative committee tasked with the probe reportedly submitted its findings to the Secretary General of the Council of Ministers, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Monday.

Environment Minister Demianos Qattar stepped down from his position on Sunday and said in a statement that he is leaving the government in solidarity with the blast victims.

Prime Minister Hassan Diab held a meeting Sunday with several ministers seeking to submit their resignations in connection with the catastrophic blast that rocked Beirut.

Parliament will hold open-ended sessions as of Thursday to grill the government over “the great crime that affected the capital and the people,” Speaker Nabih Berri said on Sunday, referring to the catastrophic Beirut port blast.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday called for speedy international backing for disaster-struck Lebanon and urged its leaders to prevent "chaos" as he opened an emergency aid conference following Beirut's deadly port blast.

Macron hosted U.S. President Donald Trump and other world leaders for the virtual conference to drum up aid for Lebanon, as the U.N. said some $117 million will be needed over the next three months for the emergency response.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Sunday said his party is trying to secure enough parliament resignations in order to force early elections.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Sunday called on the entire government to step down over the August 4 explosion, a blast widely seen as shocking proof of the rot at the core of the state apparatus.

Al-Rahi joined the chorus of people pressing Prime Minister Hassan Diab's cabinet to step down over a blast he said could be "described as a crime against humanity."