Mikati said that although he bears responsibility for the government's failure to convene, he will not call for a meeting that could lead the government to unravel.

"I've held back on calling for a meeting so matters won't become more complicated," he said.

Iran-allied Hezbollah and its Shi'ite ally Amal want the judge leading the probe into the 2020 port explosion removed and have refused to allow cabinet to meet until the issue is on the agenda. Mikati has said the issue falls outside cabinet's powers.