Michael Aoun told his neighbours to tread carefully with Lebanon after a bruising meeting of the Arab League.
Lebanese Shi’ite group Hezbollah was accused of “supporting terrorism” at the Sunday meeting in a furious statement which noted Hezbollah is part of the government in Lebanon.
Backed by Iran and widely considered a terrorist organisation, Hezbollah has been a prime target for Saudi Arabian fury as the kingdom attempts to extend its influence across the region.
In a televised speech the night before Lebanese independence day, Mr Aoun told his people: “My message to the Arab brothers: Dealing with Lebanon requires a lot of wisdom and rationalism, and the alternative to that is pushing it towards the fire.”
Saudi Arabia called the Arab League meeting at which Mr Aoun’s country was denounced, after it accused Lebanon of “declaring war” because of Hezbollah’s activities.
It has accused Iran of the same over attacks by Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen, who shot a missile at Saudi capital Riyadh at the beginning of November.
However the Lebanese PM’s strong rhetoric suggests the smaller state could be willing to escalate the conflict if the Saudis continue their blistering rhetoric.
A power struggle between Iran and Saudi Arabia has threatened to engulf the Middle East in recent months.
Lebanon was brought into the centre of that conflict in early November, when Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri turned up in Saudi capital Riyadh, announcing his resignation on the kingdom’s state TV.
According to the Financial Times, he delivered the statement with “the conviction of a kidnap victim”, sparking rumours he was in Riyadh against his will.
The fact that he blamed Iran for destabilising Lebanon through Shia Muslim group Hezbollah was, in any case, in line with the Saudi’s insistence Iran is responsible for most of the region’s problems.
Mr al-Hariri is understood to return to Beirut by Wednesday when Lebanon celebrates its independence day.
Under the new leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s long-running feud with Iran is escalating and dragging other countries in the region into the dispute.
The deteriorating relations in the region only add to fears of World War III as conflicts across the globe have heated up throughout 2017, after a series of fiery diplomatic disputes.