BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
Updated: 
Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi slammed Iran on December 15, the latest in growing tensions between the countries.

“Iran’s role is extremely negative, and its policies are among the chief sources of instability in Lebanon and the region,” Raggi wrote on social media.

Iran backs Hezbollah in Lebanon and has used Hezbollah in the past to assassinate Lebanese officials and citizens. Iran has also used Lebanon as a base to attack Israel, bringing ruin and war to the country.

Several months ago, Lebanon again condemned Iran’s meddling. “Relations between states must be based on mutual respect, equality, non-interference in domestic affairs, and full adherence to the decisions of legitimate constitutional institutions,” the Ministry said.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi shakes hands with Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji as he leaves the foreign ministry in Beirut, Lebanon June 3, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/MOHAMED AZAKIR)
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi shakes hands with Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji as he leaves the foreign ministry in Beirut, Lebanon June 3, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/MOHAMED AZAKIR)

“It is completely unacceptable for these relations to be used to promote or support domestic actors outside the framework of the Lebanese state and its legitimate institutions, or at the expense of the state itself,” the Lebanese foreign ministry said. This was in response to comments by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who had backed Hezbollah.

meddling in domestic issues

The latest spat began with Lebanon once again expressing concern that Iran was meddling in its internal affairs. Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Sunday dismissed accusations by Lebanese Foreign Minister Raggi, reports noted.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei mentioned the Lebanese comments. Iran also believes that Lebanon has been blocking the appointment and receipt of credentials of Iran’s new ambassador to Beirut.

Baghaei said that the priority for Lebanon should be “defending Lebanon against Israel’s ongoing crimes.”  Baghaei also said Iran has “submitted the relevant requests and completed the necessary procedures,” regarding the new Iranian ambassador.

The big question now is whether Lebanon’s prime minister and president will stand by their foreign minister or throw him under the bus. Rajji has led the charge while Lebanon’s leaders appear to be stalling on disarming Hezbollah.

The pro-Hezbollah Al-Akhbar newspaper in Lebanon is now trying to create tensions and division. The paper claims that “President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam informed those who contacted them of their displeasure with the statements of Foreign Minister Youssef Raji, whether in relation to the general situation or to relations with Iran in particular.”

The report claims that Aoun is concerned that Rajji is acting unilaterally. The report claims that “for his part, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam expressed his displeasure with Raji’s statements, affirming to his visitors that they ‘in no way reflect the position of the Lebanese government, regardless of any reservations Lebanon may have regarding Iran’s role in Lebanon and the region.’”

The report at Al-Akhbar accused Rajji of being a “political minister” and noted his affiliation with the Christian Lebanese Forces political party. Rajji has previously served in a number of diplomatic roles for Lebanon, including in Washington, Brussels, and at the UN.

He was also a senior official in Lebanon’s embassy in Morocco and the ambassador to Jordan. In order to try to sideline Rajji, Al-Akhbar claimed that “it is noted that Arab and foreign diplomats in Lebanon avoid holding regular meetings with Rajji, while several Lebanese ambassadors at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledge the difficulty of conducting any dialogue with him.”

The goal of Iran and Hezbollah now is to have Rajji reprimanded for his statements.