Top Iranian security official calls on region to unite against ‘Israel’s conspiracies’

BEIRUT, Lebanon — A top Iranian security official calls on regional countries to put their difference aside and cooperate closely as they face what he called “Israel’s conspiracies.”

Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, speaks in Beirut, where he arrived earlier today to attend the anniversary of Israel’s assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon.

Iran has been the main backer of Hezbollah over the past four decades, supplying it with weapons and money that have turned it into one of the most powerful terror groups in the region. But Hezbollah suffered heavy losses in a 14-month war with Israel, which ended with a US-brokered ceasefire in November, with many of its political and military commanders killed in Israeli strikes.

“Today, amid Israel’s conspiracies, regional states should closely cooperate, and even if there were disagreements between them, they should put these disagreements aside,” Larjani says after a nearly one-hour meeting with Lebanon’s Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

Larijani praises the call by Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem for Saudi Arabia to open a new page after years of tense relations, calling it “a step in the right direction.” Referring to Israel, Larijani says Saudi Arabia and Hezbollah both “have a common enemy.”

Asked about reports that Israel might launch new strikes against Iran, Larijani says, “We are ready to face all scenarios, but I don’t think that the Israelis will behave in this stupid way.”

“If they do that, they will receive strong retaliation,” Larijani says, without elaborating.