BEIRUT

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam warned Wednesday against drawing Lebanon into a “new war” amid fears of a possible US attack against Iran.

“It has been an extraordinary year in terms of events and challenges. Lebanon has emerged from a devastating war, yet Israeli attacks continue,” Salam said in statements during a Ramadan iftar hosted at the Grand Serail, the prime minister’s headquarters in Beirut.

“It is in no way in our interest, and we will not accept that Lebanon be dragged into an adventure or a new war.”

Salam said the Lebanese army is fully ready to implement the second phase of a government plan to confine weapons.

“The armed forces can achieve this task in four months if they are provided with all needed resources,” he added.

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem has earlier warned that the group would not remain neutral if Iran were attacked by the US or Israel.

Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi on Tuesday urged Hezbollah to avoid involvement in any new confrontation, warning that participation in a potential US-Iran conflict could expose Lebanon’s infrastructure to Israeli strikes.

Washington and Tehran are set to hold a new round of indirect nuclear negotiations in Geneva on Thursday amid US threats of military action against Iran if talks fail.

The US has significantly increased its military presence in Persian Gulf region, while Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) conducted a series of military drills for any potential war.

*Writing by Rania Abushamala in Istanbul.