The visit by Ali Larijani, the head of Iran’s top security body, came as the Lebanese government moves to disarm Hezbollah, the militant group that has long been Tehran’s most powerful regional ally.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun rejected Wednesday "any interference" in his country's internal affairs, telling a top Iranian visiting official that no group in Lebanon is allowed to carry weapons or seek strength and support from outside forces.

Lebanese leaders firmly rejected any efforts at foreign interference during a visit by Iran's security chief Wednesday, with the prime minister saying Beirut would "tolerate neither tutelage nor diktat" after Tehran voiced opposition to plans to disarm Hezbollah.