Iran: Hezbollah disarming is illogical

Tehran: Iran welcomed the planned ceasefire to halt the month-long war between Hezbollah and Israel, but described the UN Security Council's call for disarming the Iranian-backed group as "illogical".

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told a weekly news conference on Sunday, "We are happy for the ceasefire in Lebanon. But the resolution is not balanced.''

He added, "Let us not forget that as long as there is occupation there is resistance."

The Security Council adopted a resolution on Friday calling for a "full cessation of hostilities" and for the implementation of a previous UN resolution requiring the disarming of armed groups including Hezbollah.

Asked about the call for disarming Hezbollah, Asefi said: "This is a totally unreasonable demand. It is illogical," adding, "It does not condemn the Zionist regime (Israel) and its crimes in Lebanon."

Israel has accused Iran of providing Hezbollah with missiles used against civilian and military targets.

Although Iran armed and funded Hezbollah during the 1980s, Tehran now insists it provides only moral support to the group.