Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, after his meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Oct. 4, 2024. (Credit: AFP)
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who arrived in Beirut on Friday, shared his country’s efforts to achieve a cease-fire in Lebanon and Gaza.
The Iranian diplomat was received at the Grand Serail by Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, to whom he expressed "Tehran's concern to support Lebanon against Israeli aggression," reported the state-run National News Agency (NNA). He also met with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri at Ain al-Tineh, assuring him that Iran was working to secure a truce.
"We support efforts for a cease-fire, provided that, first, the rights of the Lebanese people are respected and it is accepted by the resistance," Araghchi said, referring to Hezbollah. "Second, it must occur simultaneously with a cease-fire in Gaza," according to statements reported by AFP.
"We fully support Lebanon in its efforts to face Israeli crimes. We stand with Lebanon and the resistance (Hezbollah) (...) and we are sure that the Lebanese people will be victorious. My presence in Beirut during these difficult circumstances shows that Iran supports Hezbollah, the Shiites of Lebanon, as well as all Lebanese people," added Araghchi, according to local channel MTV.
At the Grand Serail, the Iranian diplomat stated that his country "will launch a diplomatic campaign to support Lebanon, notably by calling for a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation."
Araghchi is the first Iranian diplomat to set foot in Lebanon since Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah was assassinated on Sept. 27 in an Israeli strike. He is also set to meet Friday with lawmakers from the "resistance axis" (pro-Iranian).
Lebanon has been at war with Israel since Hezbollah opened a "support front" to Gaza in southern Lebanon in Oct. 2023. Israeli attacks have seen a sharp escalation over the past two weeks, now regularly targeting the southern suburbs of the capital, while Hezbollah militias clash with Israeli troops along the southern border.
It is in this troubled context, and as the southern suburbs have just endured another night of intense bombings, that the Iranian minister is visiting Lebanese officials.
Araghchi also addressed Tuesday’s Iranian strike against Israel, affirming that his country only targeted "military and security centers, unlike Israel, which targets civilians." "The Iranian strike on Israel is part of legitimate self-defense. We did not initiate attacks but responded to assaults that targeted us. We have no plans to continue in this direction unless Israel continues its offensives. In that case, our response will be even stronger," added the Iranian minister, quoted by MTV.