A hardline Iranian MP has accused the president of the Islamic Republic of weakening Hezbollah during his trip to New York last week.
“I wish our dear president, who is a doctor and has said that he doesn’t understand politics, would make use of experienced advisors and not say during his trip to New York, ‘We are willing to lay down our weapons if Israel lays down its weapons,’” Mojtaba Rahmandous said on Tuesday.
“I wish he wouldn’t weaken Hezbollah and wouldn’t say that Hezbollah cannot stand up to Israel, nor would he suggest that we have new negotiations with the Europeans,” he added.
Mr Rahmandous was referring to remarks made by President Masoud Pezeshkian during his visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly.
Mr Pezeshkian said in a private event in New York: “We are ready to give up all our weapons if Israel does the same and an international organisation comes to the region to ensure security.”
He later rejected the idea of an international organisation in his speech at the UN General Assembly, claiming that the presence of foreign forces is the “origin of instability”.
The shift in Pezeshkian’s approach was likely influenced by significant pressure from inside Iran, particularly from the media and hardline factions.
Foreign minister Abbas Araghchi later said: “What the president meant was that if there is to be peace and security in the region, weapons should not be given [to warring parties]. His comments did not indicate any intent to reduce tensions with Israel but rather focused on disarmament of weapons of mass destruction.”
Mr Pezeshkian also said: “Hezbollah cannot stand against Israel alone, Islamic countries must take action. Hezbollah is facing a government that is armed to the teeth and possesses superior weaponry.”
