Iran’s parliament speaker meets with Hezbollah officials, Lebanese PM

Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf denounced Israel’s “crimes” on Saturday as he visited the site of the deadliest Israeli strikes on central Beirut in recent weeks, an AFP photographer said, Report informs via The Times of Israel.

The Thursday night strikes in the densely populated Basta neighborhood and the nearby Nweiri district are said to have targeted the Iran-backed Lebanese terror group’s security chief Wafiq Safa.

While neither Israel’s military nor Hezbollah confirmed Safa was the target or commented on his fate, Lebanon’s health ministry said the strikes killed at least 22 people – the deadliest inside the capital in weeks of escalation.

together after their meeting in Beirut on October 12, 2024. (AFP)

Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf denounced Israel’s “crimes” on Saturday as he visited the site of the deadliest Israeli strikes on central Beirut in recent weeks, an AFP photographer said.

The Thursday night strikes in the densely populated Basta neighborhood and the nearby Nweiri district are said to have targeted the Iran-backed Lebanese terror group’s security chief Wafiq Safa.

While neither Israel’s military nor Hezbollah confirmed Safa was the target or commented on his fate, Lebanon’s health ministry said the strikes killed at least 22 people – the deadliest inside the capital in weeks of escalation.

Speaking to reporters in Basta, accompanied by two Hezbollah lawmakers, Qalibaf denounced what he called Israel’s “crimes.”

“International organizations and the UN Security Council have the capability [to stop Israel] but they are unfortunately keeping silent,” he said.

Earlier Saturday, Qalibaf met Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who told him his government’s priority was “to work towards a ceasefire,” Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA) said.

Mikati had on Friday urged the United Nations to pass a resolution calling for an “immediate” ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

Qalibaf told reporters after meeting his counterpart Nabih Berri, a key Hezbollah ally, that Iran “will certainly support the decisions of the Lebanese government, the Lebanese people, and the resistance [Hezbollah] in this period.”

When Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Lebanon last week, he said Tehran backed efforts for a simultaneous ceasefire with Israel in both Gaza and Lebanon.