Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati on October 18 accused Iran of "shameful interference" in Lebanon's internal affairs, following comments by an Iranian official about negotiations over UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

Mikati said Iran's statement regarding negotiating on behalf of Lebanon to implement Resolution 1701, which calls for the disarmament of Hezbollah, was "a shameful interference in internal affairs and an attempt to strengthen a guardianship that Lebanon refuses."

"We are surprised by this position, which constitutes a blatant interference in Lebanese affairs and an attempt to impose an unacceptable tutelage over Lebanon," Mikati said, Lebanese state news agency NNA reported. 

The dispute arose after Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, speaker of Iran's parliament, told French newspaper Le Figaro that Tehran would be willing to negotiate with France on implementing the UN resolution.

"We do not recognise the statements of the Iranian parliament speaker regarding Tehran's readiness to negotiate with France on UN Resolution 1701 concerning the removal of Hezbollah from the border," Mikati said in a statement.

Lebanon's foreign ministry has summoned the Iranian chargé d'affaires for clarification on the matter, according to a statement from the prime minister's office.

Relations between Iran and Lebanon have worsened since the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and his successor Hashem Safieddine who was also killed.

Resolution 1701, adopted in 2006, calls for the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon, including Hezbollah, and the withdrawal of the group from southern Lebanon.

The exchange highlights ongoing tensions in the region and the complex relationship between Lebanon, Iran, and Hezbollah, which is backed by Tehran.

In a related development, Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group announced on Friday that it is entering a new phase in its fight against Israeli forces.

This statement comes as the region grapples with Israel's claim that top Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed in a battle with Israeli forces in Gaza on Thursday.

While Hamas has not yet responded to the Israeli announcement, Iran's mission to the United Nations released a statement commemorating the Palestinian militant leader.

Sinwar was a chief architect of the October 7 attack on southern Israel that triggered the current conflicts in the Middle East.

The reported death of Sinwar has sparked hope among some, including governments allied with Israel and Gaza residents, that it could lead to an end to the war. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated in a speech announcing the killing that "Our war is not yet ended."

These developments underscore the complex and volatile nature of the ongoing conflicts in the region, with potential implications for Lebanon, Israel, and the broader Middle East.