BEIRUT—Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri called for Lebanon to be left out of the regional clash between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and praised the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia for doing its part to de-escalate the tensions.

In his first interview with a U.S. news organization since withdrawing the resignation he made under Saudi pressure in November, Mr. Hariri also told The Wall Street Journal that he was open to Hezbollah continuing to participate in the government following elections slated for May.

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