Foreign Ministry responds to Aghaie: Rationality among nations demands respect for sovereignty

Issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates:

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates welcomes the concern expressed by Iran's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Abbas Aghaie, regarding establishing good relations with the Lebanese government. The Ministry affirms that Lebanon has always sought, and continues to seek, the best possible relations with all countries, including Iran.

Here, the Ministry emphasizes that it has consistently adopted rationality, openness, and a constructive spirit in addressing all issues, and expects its counterparts to adopt the same approach. Rationality in international relations presupposes dealing with states through their constitutional and legitimate institutions, not through 'actors' or 'factions' within them. Just as Iran, or any other host country, would not accept the Lebanese ambassador bypassing official institutions to engage with actors or factions outside their authority, Lebanon likewise does not accept such practices. Relations between states are built with states and through them, and respect for sovereignty is a mutual principle that admits neither selectivity nor violation."