Iran’s acting top diplomat dismisses US-proposed Gaza cease-fire deal in visit to Lebanon

BY ABBY SEWELL AND KAREEM CHEHAYEB
Associated Press

BEIRUT (AP) — Iran’s acting foreign minister has dismissed a Gaza cease-fire deal proposed by United States President Joe Biden and warned Israel against launching an all-out war against Lebanon during a visit to Beirut, his first official diplomatic visit since his predecessor died last month. Ali Bagheri Kani Monday said Israel would find itself in a quagmire should it launch an all-out war in Lebanon against Hezbollah, a country he described as the “cradle of resistance.” Tehran, a key backer of the Palestinian militant group  in the Gaza Strip, backs a number of armed factions in the region, of which Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah is widely seen as the most powerful.