Beirut (Lebanon) (AFP) - The French Foreign Minister from Beirut on Friday urged Iran to stop "destabilizing" the region, and stressed the need to provide the Lebanese army with the necessary means to disarm Hezbollah, which is supported by Tehran.

Published on: 02/06/2026 - 13:53 Last updated: 02/06/2026 - 20:38

While Iran and the United States held a first round of talks in the Sultanate of Oman on Friday, Jean-Noel Barrot said that Tehran must make “major concessions.”

He urged in a press conference from the Lebanese capital the need for Iran to stop being a “destabilizing force,” referring to its nuclear program and its support for factions that he classified as “terrorist.”

Barrow also called on "Iranian-backed factions" to exercise "maximum restraint" in the event of a military conflict breaking out between Tehran and Washington.

Hezbollah had stated that it would not remain neutral in the event of an attack on Iran, which US President Donald Trump threatened to attack.

Without mentioning the party by name, Barrow said, "Some actors still reject the decisions taken by the legitimate authorities," adding that "their suicidal impulse exposes the country to destruction and devastation," and called on them to "be wise."

Lebanon's Hezbollah emerged weak from its war with Israel in 2024 and is under intense pressure to disarm.

"Arms monopoly"

Barrow told AFP that the Lebanese Armed Forces must be "provided with the necessary capabilities to continue the process of disarming Hezbollah."

He added, "France's vision for Lebanon is that it is a strong and sovereign state that has a monopoly on arms."

Under a ceasefire agreement concluded with Israel in November 2024, the Lebanese army announced last month that it had completed the demilitarization of the area extending from the southern border to the Litani River (about 30 kilometers from the Israeli border).

The French Foreign Minister considered that "the Lebanese government has assumed its responsibilities by committing to implement the first phase of the disarmament plan and to carry it forward until its end."

He continued, "The second phase must begin now, and the associated plan must be presented in the coming days."

This stage includes the area between the Litani and Awali rivers, about forty kilometers south of Beirut. Hezbollah confirms its refusal to hand over its weapons north of the Litani River.

Barrow, who met with prominent Lebanese officials, indicated that he discussed the conference that Paris will host on March 5 to support the Lebanese army.

He pledged during his press conference that “France will fulfill its promise to mobilize the international community,” adding that Paris wants “concrete commitments.”

He revealed that a meeting will be held in the coming days “with Lebanon’s main partners and friends in the region” to prepare for the conference.

Jean-Noel Barrot also indicated that the army should prepare to compensate UNIFIL, which includes 700 French soldiers, when the time comes for the withdrawal of this international force that has been monitoring the border between Israel and Lebanon since 1978.

Reconstruction

The UN Security Council extended for a final time in August the mandate of UNIFIL, which is scheduled to withdraw in 2027 under pressure from the United States and Israel.

"We now need to prepare for the post-UNIFIL period, as the withdrawal of this force from the Blue Helmets will begin at the end of 2026 and continue until the end of 2027," Barrow told AFP.

Speaking about reconstruction, he pointed out that “the basic condition for the flow of international financing is to reform the banking system,” praising the government’s “courage” and efforts in this regard.

Barrow arrived in Beirut from Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan region of Iraq, where he met in particular with the commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, Mazloum Abdi.

His tour also included Baghdad and Damascus, where he stressed on Friday that the fight against the jihadist organization ISIS remains an "absolute priority."

© 2026 AFP

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