President Joseph Aoun (right) and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi pose for photos before their meeting at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, in a photo released by the Lebanese presidency's press service, on June 3, 2025. (Credit: Lebanese Presidency/AFP)
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who arrived in Beirut Tuesday, said that Iranian companies were ready to contribute to Lebanon's reconstruction efforts "if the Lebanese government desires."
"I told my counterpart Joe Rajji that he could count on Iran in his efforts to drive Israel out of Lebanon, and that Iranian companies are ready to participate in the reconstruction if the Lebanese government desired," said the Iranian foreign minister, according to statements reported by local media. He also stated that "Iran fully supports the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Lebanon and hopes for relations based on mutual respect and non-interference in each other's affairs."
Arriving in Beirut Tuesday morning, the Iranian minister met with President Joseph Aoun at the Baabda Palace.
"Iran supports the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Lebanon and its efforts to end the Israeli occupation," the Iranian minister told Aoun, as reported by the presidency on its X account. "Iran's support for Lebanon is part of the good relations between the two countries and the principle of non-interference in domestic politics,"noting that Iran supports national dialogue in Lebanon.
The meeting between Araghchi and Aoun was held in the presence of the Lebanese Foreign Minister, Joe Rajji.
"Lebanon seeks to strengthen its state-to-state relations with Iran," President Aoun stated. "Internal dialogue is the gateway to all disputed issues. The same applies to dialogue between countries, away from violence."
Regarding regions destroyed by Israeli bombardments, Aoun said that the reconstruction of areas destroyed by the Israeli army in Lebanon was his priority.
The withdrawal of Hezbollah's arms, 'a Lebanese decision'
During a prior meeting with his Lebanese counterpart, Rajji, the Iranian foreign minister was said to have stated that the issue of "the withdrawal of Hezbollah's arms is a Lebanese decision," according to the Saudi news channel al-Arabiya citing "Arab sources."
"The discussion was frank and direct," stated Rajji's press office.
The two men discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and their development based on good cooperation and mutual respect for the sovereignty of the two countries. They also addressed the latest developments on regional and local levels, particularly ongoing negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear dossier, reported the state-run National News Agency (NNA).
Rajji stated that "Lebanon counts on the Islamic Republic of Iran's concern for its security, stability, and civil peace in the face of significant challenges it faces, notably the liberation of territories still occupied by Israel through diplomacy, the end of Israeli aggressions, the restoration of Lebanese state authority over the entire territory, the monopoly of arms by the state, as well as the support of friendly countries to the government so that it can fulfill its mission of reconstruction and development of Lebanon."
The Iranian minister reiterated the comments he made upon arriving at Beirut airport to "open a new page in relations between Iran and Lebanon."
Araghchi also met with Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri.
"The meetings were good and very useful. The relations between Iran and Lebanon have always been good, and we are keen for them to remain so in the new circumstances," he said.
The Iranian minister also consulted with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.
According to Salam's press office, Araghchi expressed "the willingness of his country to open a new page in bilateral relations with Lebanon, based on mutual respect and non-interference in each other's affairs."
He also emphasized "the need to develop and strengthen commercial and economic relations between the two countries, and to work towards removing obstacles to investment and trade exchanges."
The prime minister stated that "Lebanon is keen to maintain bilateral relations with Iran based on mutual respect, preservation of the sovereignty of both countries, and assurance of each country's independence to promote security and stability in the region."
'No interference' in internal affairs
"We have always supported the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon at all stages and continue to do so in the current difficult circumstances. We hope to open a new page in the relations with Lebanon on the basis of mutual respect, and we do not interfere in its internal affairs," Araghchi stated upon his arrival at Beirut airport, according to reports by the NNA. "My visit is part of my regional tour, following my visit to Cairo."
Lebanon indefinitely suspended flights to and from Iran since last February, after refusing to grant landing permits for two Mahan Air flights due to Israeli threats to bomb Beirut airport.
Aoun said last February to an official Iranian delegation that came to Beirut for the funeral of the former secretary-general of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, that Lebanon no longer wanted "other people's wars on its soil."
Among the members of this delegation were Araghchi and Iranian Parliamentary Speaker Mohammed-Bagher Ghalibaf. The president said that"the best relations with Tehran, in the interest of both countries."
Hezbollah, supported and funded by Tehran, is emerging from a more than one-year-long conflict with Israel, including two months of full-scale war, which weakened it. Nasrallah was killed in September 2024 by an Israeli strike.
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