New York:Lebanon: Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has requested Iran to appoint a new ambassador to Beirut and proposed opening a new 'state-to-state' chapter in their bilateral relations. This request comes nearly six months after Lebanon declared Iran's former envoy persona non grata.

According to Anadolu Agency, Salam conveyed these remarks during a meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at the UN General Assembly in New York. The meeting was also attended by Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Tensions between Lebanon and Iran have been ongoing since March when the Lebanese Foreign Ministry declared Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Reza Sheibani persona non grata due to 'Iran's violation of diplomatic norms and established procedures.' Despite this decision, Sheibani remained in Lebanon with support from Iran's allies, particularly Hezbollah.

In the meeting, Salam emphasized Lebanon's desire to avoid becoming a battleground for regional conflicts and expressed the intention to establish a 'sound state-to-state relationship' with Iran based on mutual respect for sovereignty and shared interests. He also urged Iran to nominate a new ambassador to further these goals.

Salam also highlighted Lebanon's priorities, including achieving the complete Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory and ending its attacks. He stressed the importance of extending state authority across Lebanon and ensuring that weapons are controlled exclusively by the state.

Despite a US-sponsored Framework Agreement aimed at Israeli withdrawal and the disarmament of Hezbollah, Israeli attacks have persisted. Since the conflict began on March 2, 2025, Lebanon's Health Ministry reports 4,386 deaths and over 12,000 injuries, underscoring the ongoing conflict's toll. Israel continues to occupy parts of southern Lebanon, advancing more than 10 kilometers into Lebanese territory during the latest hostilities.