Salam: No Rift with Berri, Arms Must Belong to State, Iran’s Revolutionary Era Is Over

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam reaffirmed on Monday his unwavering commitment to the government's ministerial statement and dismissed speculation of any friction with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, insisting their discussions remain fully within the agreed political framework.

“I have not deviated by a single word from the ministerial statement,” Salam told reporters after his meeting with Berri in Ain al-Tineh. “Speaker Berri knows I have not said anything beyond what was originally agreed.”

Salam said the talks focused on reconstruction efforts in areas affected by recent conflict and underscored his commitment to leading those efforts. He added that Berri expressed no concerns regarding the government's planned reforms.

“I reiterated that I am fully dedicated to the reconstruction process, and we are working to mobilize the necessary support,” he said.

Salam stressed that Lebanon requires over $7 billion for recovery and noted that his government has successfully secured $250 million in funding from the World Bank.

On the regional front, the prime minister reaffirmed Lebanon’s support for peace, but strictly within the framework of the Arab Peace Initiative.

“We are certainly in favor of peace, provided it is grounded in the Arab Peace Initiative, which calls for a two-state solution and the return of Palestinian refugees to their homeland,” he said.

The Arab Peace Initiative, first proposed by Saudi Arabia and adopted by the Arab League in 2002, offers Israel full normalization of relations with Arab states in exchange for a complete withdrawal from territories occupied since 1967, the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and a just solution for Palestinian refugees. While repeatedly reaffirmed at subsequent Arab summits, the initiative has not been accepted by Israel.

Salam also responded to recent comments by senior Hezbollah MP Mohammad Raad, who had suggested that goodwill remained between the party and the prime minister.

“I’ve left ample room for goodwill with MP Mohammad Raad,” Salam said. “He and the party are always welcome. My doors are open, whether at home or at the Grand Serail.”

Addressing the issue of Hezbollah’s weapons, Salam pointed to the ministerial statement, which explicitly states that all arms must fall under the exclusive authority of the state.

“We are committed to that principle, just as we are to the Taif Agreement, which calls for the state to extend its sovereignty across all Lebanese territory,” he said.

On broader regional dynamics, Salam dismissed past rhetoric once propagated by Iran.

“Talk of exporting the Iranian revolution is a thing of the past,” he said. “Claims of controlling four Arab capitals also belong to another era."