Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf claimed he is in contact with Hezbollah terrorists despite Lebanese objections to his account, Saudi channel Al Arabiya reported on Saturday.
"I had a close friendship and relationship with every martyr of Lebanon, and I am still in contact with the (Hezbollah) fighters on the front lines in Lebanon," said Ghalibaf.
According to the report, the rejection of Iranian interference in Lebanon has previously been stressed by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who told CNN in June that "this is not your country, it is our country, and it is our duty and your job not to interfere in our country."
Ghalibaf's comments come amid a tense period in negotiations between Iran and the United States. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Iranian news outlet Shahrara News earlier on Saturday that Iran-US negotiations have not resumed despite the regime exchanging messages with mediating countries Qatar and Pakistan.
Ghalibaf, who is also Iran's top negotiator, insisted that both Hezbollah and Lebanon were included in the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Al Arabiya added.
IDF strikes Hezbollah terror targets in Lebanon
Meanwhile, the IDF continues to strike Hezbollah targets in Lebanon following ceasefire violations by the terrorist group, with the latest strike targeting the southern Lebanese village of Ansar overnight between Friday and Saturday.
Aoun condemned the "ongoing Israeli attacks" in a post from his office’s X/Twitter account on Saturday morning, calling them a "violation of the Framework Agreement."
Hezbollah responded to the IDF strikes later on Saturday, saying they would be "met accordingly."
Hezbollah chief: No progress in Israel-Lebanon framework agreement
According to Al Arabiya, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem said on Friday that the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire framework "has not achieved any progress," describing the establishment of pilot zones for the framework in southern Lebanon as a "novelty that serves Israel’s goals."
The report contrasted Qassem's comments with those of Lebanese Information Minister Paul Morcos, who emphasized the country's commitment to continued negotiations with Israel.
Shoshana Baker and Reuters contributed to this report.