Iran not looking to expand war in region: FM

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian attends a press conference in Beirut, Lebanon, Feb. 10, 2024. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua)

BEIRUT, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on Saturday that his country did not want to see an expansion of the war in the region, Lebanese TV channel al-Manar reported.

"Iran and Lebanon confirm that the war is not the solution, and we never want to expand the scope of the war," he said during a joint press conference with his Lebanese counterpart Abdallah Bou Habib in Beirut.

The top Iranian diplomat also called on the United States to pressure Israel to stop the attacks on Gaza and the West Bank.

Amir-Abdollahian said the U.S. was taking two different approaches: One is to continue supplying Israel with weapons and participate in the Gaza war, and the second is talking about a political solution to be reached soon.

For his part, Bou Habib said Lebanon had never wanted a war but sought stability, calm, and a comprehensive and just peace in the region.

"We stressed the need for the international community to assume its responsibility by stopping Israel's war against Lebanon and Gaza," Bou Habib said.

During his meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati earlier in the day, Amir-Abdollahian emphasized the necessity to exert more efforts to stop the Israeli aggression on Gaza and reach just solutions for all countries in the region, according to a statement released by Lebanon's Council of Ministers.

The Iranian minister added the U.S.-led attacks in Yemen had worsened the crisis in the region, according to a statement released by Al-Intishar, a local news website.

Amir-Abdollahian also met with Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah to discuss the latest developments on Saturday.

Nasrallah said the resistance groups constituted a vital element in the region, and the victory of the Palestinians and the Islamic resistance is inevitable, according to Al-Intishar. 

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (L) and his Lebanese counterpart Abdallah Bou Habib attend a press conference in Beirut, Lebanon, Feb. 10, 2024. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua)