Lebanon’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday issued a strongly worded statement rejecting recent comments by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, accusing Tehran of overstepping by weighing in on Lebanon’s internal affairs.

The ministry condemned Araghchi’s statements as "unacceptable and condemned," saying they amount to a violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty, unity, and stability.

“The recent remarks made by Iranian Foreign Minister Mr. Abbas Araghchi, in which he addressed internal Lebanese matters that in no way concern the Islamic Republic, are entirely rejected and condemned,” the statement read. “These statements constitute a violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty, unity, and stability, and represent an unacceptable interference in its internal affairs and sovereign decision-making.”

The ministry stressed that diplomatic relations must be governed by principles of mutual respect and non-intervention.

“Relations between nations must be built solely on the basis of mutual respect, equality, non-interference in domestic affairs, and full adherence to the decisions of legitimate constitutional institutions,” the statement continued.

The ministry went on to warn against using bilateral ties as a platform to back internal actors who operate outside the authority of the state.

“It is completely unacceptable for such relations to be used to encourage or support internal parties operating outside the framework of the Lebanese state and its institutions, and at the expense of the state itself.”