French President Emmanuel Macron told Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday that all concerned parties should refrain from external interference in Lebanon, the Elysee office said.
Macron also told Rouhani that parties should support the formation of a new government in Lebanon, it said.
Hezbollah is backed by Iran and the party has in recent years gained political sway in the country. The government of Prime Minister Hassan Diab that resigned on Monday was dominated by the party and its allies in the Free Patriotic Movement.
Protests that erupted in wake of last week’s massive Beirut explosion have vented their rage against the armed party, blaming it and the political elite for neglecting to remove the 2,750-ton stockpile of ammonium nitrate that resulted in the blast that killed at least 160 people, devastated the capital and left 300,000 without a home.
Hezbollah is repeatedly accused by its opponents of prioritizing Iran’s interests above Lebanon’s.
