Iran speaker: Ending Lebanon war as vital as ending conflict at home

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf stated on Wednesday that ending the war in Lebanon holds equal importance for Tehran as ending the war in Iran, telling delegates in Baku that regional stability requires simultaneous ceasefires on all fronts.

Speaking before more than 400 delegates at the 20th Session of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States, Qalibaf emphasized that diplomatic efforts must address both conflicts concurrently. "The ceasefire and ending the war in Lebanon is as important to us as the ceasefire and ending the war in Iran," he said, adding that the four-day summit offers a platform to coordinate Islamic nations' responses to ongoing aggression.

Islamabad Memorandum framework

The parliament speaker's comments come as Tehran engages with Washington under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, a pact signed electronically by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and US President Donald Trump that entered into force on June 18. The agreement commits both nations and their allies to the immediate and permanent cessation of military operations across the region, including Lebanon, according to the text released by both capitals.

Diplomatic sources told the outlet that the memorandum's first article specifically references Lebanon alongside other conflict zones, establishing a linkage between the Islamic Republic's security negotiations and the situation in Beirut. Qalibaf's presence in Azerbaijan signals Tehran's effort to maintain solidarity with Muslim-majority nations while pursuing bilateral talks with Washington.

Casualties in Lebanon

Israeli military operations in Lebanon have killed more than 4,100 people and injured over 12,000 others since March 2, according to official Lebanese figures. The attacks continue as Tel Aviv maintains occupation of southern Lebanese territories — including areas held for decades and others seized during the 2023–2024 war.

The Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States convened Monday in Baku for its 20th session, drawing parliamentarians from across the Islamic world to address regional security challenges. Delegates are expected to issue a joint declaration addressing the conflicts in Lebanon and Gaza before the summit concludes on Thursday.