ALWAGHT- French newspaper Le Figaro reported that Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf stated in an interview that Tehran is open to conducting substantive negotiations with Paris regarding the implementation measures of Resolution 1701.
In an interview with Le Figaro on Thursday, Qalibaf suggested that Tehran might be open to negotiations with Paris regarding the implementation of UN Resolution 1701, which specifies that only the Lebanese army should be deployed in South Lebanon. According to the French newspaper, Qalibaf expressed his hope for a swift ceasefire in South Lebanon and indicated that Iran is willing to engage in substantive discussions on enforcing Resolution 1701, with France mediating between Hezbollah and the Israeli regime.
UN Security Council Resolution 1701, adopted in August 2006, aims to end hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, bolster the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), and calls for the disarmament of armed groups outside the Lebanese state forces.
Qalibaf also defended Iran's ballistic missile strikes on Israeli targets on October. This response came after the Israeli assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah Secretary General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah, and IRGC General Abbas Nilforoushan, during which Iran launched approximately 200 ballistic missiles targeting the Israeli regime’s military and intelligence bases across the occupied Palestinian territories.
"History has taught us that the Zionist regime only understands the language of force. It attacked our diplomatic mission in Syria, martyring several senior Iranian officials. Despite our response on April 13, 2024, it persisted, assassinating Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran during an official ceremony. If we did not retaliate, the Zionist regime would continue to attack us!" Qalibaf emphasized. Before traveling to Geneva for the interview, he visited Beirut on Saturday, where he personally piloted the plane that landed at Beirut airport and met with several Lebanese officials, including outgoing Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.
