Iran Emphasizes Lebanon’s Role in Regional Ceasefire Efforts
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s prominent Speaker of Parliament, has conveyed to his Lebanese counterpart, Nabih Berri, that securing a ceasefire in Lebanon holds “as much importance” as one in Iran. This statement, shared via Telegram, underscores Iran’s comprehensive approach to regional stability amidst ongoing conflicts.
Tehran’s Push for Permanent Ceasefire
In the context of ongoing discussions aimed at ending the conflict between Iran and the United States, Ghalibaf affirmed Tehran’s commitment. He stated that Iran has “been striving to compel our enemies to establish a permanent ceasefire in all the conflict zones, in accordance with the agreement.” He reiterated this stance during his conversation with Berri, emphasizing the equal significance of a ceasefire in Lebanon for Iran.
Ghalibaf recently led the Iranian delegation at the inaugural US-Iran meeting held in Pakistan last week, which concluded without a definitive agreement. Tehran has consistently maintained that any ceasefire agreement concerning the broader Iran conflict must also extend to Lebanon, a point that the United States and Israel reportedly contend is not part of the current understanding.
Iran’s Solidarity with Lebanon and Berri’s Concerns
During their phone conversation, Ghalibaf assured Berri of Iran’s unwavering support, stating that Iranians “have never forgotten our Lebanese brothers and consider them to be among us.”
In response, the Lebanese parliament speaker detailed the recent Israeli attacks on Lebanon, highlighting the severe humanitarian impact. Berri informed Ghalibaf that approximately 1.2 million Lebanese people have been displaced by the fighting. He was quoted as saying, “Israel is literally committing crimes in our country and seeking to displace Lebanese people.” Berri further asserted that “Any official communication and consultation with the Zionist regime [Israel] is definitely not in the interests of the Lebanese people,” while expressing appreciation for Iran’s efforts in helping to secure a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Escalation and Humanitarian Toll
Lebanon became embroiled in the US-Israel conflict with Iran on March 2, following rocket attacks by Hezbollah, an Iran-aligned group, against Israel. Hezbollah stated these attacks were in retaliation for Israel’s alleged killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28, the first day of the war, as well as Israel’s near-daily violations of a ceasefire agreed upon in Lebanon in November 2024. Since the escalation, Israeli forces have reportedly killed more than 2,000 people in Lebanon.
Potential Diplomatic Breakthrough
In a significant development late on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump announced that the leaders of Israel and Lebanon are slated to speak to each other for the first time in 34 years on Thursday. While an Israeli official has confirmed these reports, the Lebanese government has yet to issue a comment.
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