A member of the Strong Republic Bloc, MP Fadi Karam, criticized the words of the outspoken Qassem Hashem during the conference of the “Union of Councils of Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation,” objecting to his speech “on behalf of Lebanon, its parliament, and the speaker of the council, President Nabih Berri, regarding the Iranian-American memorandum of understanding.” Karam considered that Hashem has the right to express his personal position, and to speak on behalf of the bloc to which he belongs and on behalf of President Nabih Berri, but he does not have the right, neither closely nor remotely, to speak on behalf of Lebanon or the Parliament. He added: “Stop suggesting that your positions and theories represent Lebanon, because this is incorrect and completely rejected,” stressing that the positions of a particular political team cannot be considered expressive of all Lebanese or of the legislative institution.