Aoun, Araghchi agree on need for diplomatic solutions to regional conflicts

BEIRUT — President Joseph Aoun received a phone call from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday, during which the two agreed on the "need to support diplomatic solutions to end conflicts in the region," according to the Lebanese presidency on X.

The two discussed the current situation in the region in light of recent developments, with their views aligned on the need to support diplomatic solutions as "the best solutions to put an end to conflicts in the region," the presidency said in a post on X.

The call between Aoun and Aragchi follows a meeting between Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in New York in September, on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. Salam then stressed that Lebanon should not be a theater for regional conflicts and called for relations based on mutual respect and non-interference. He also urged Tehran to appoint a new ambassador to Beirut, following the controversy surrounding its designated envoy, Mohammad Reza Shibani.

The contact also comes amid Tehran's calls for an end to the war in Lebanon. In June, a U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding called for an immediate and permanent end to the war on all fronts, including Lebanon. Lebanese officials have insisted that only the Lebanese state can negotiate on the country's behalf.

Meanwhile, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh arrived at Beirut International Airport on Wednesday at the head of a diplomatic delegation, according to Lebanese press reports. He was received by a delegation from the Amal Movement led by Khalil Hamdane, representing Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, as well as Hezbollah MP Ali Mokdad.

Kataeb party leader Samy Gemayel appeared to respond to Khatibzadeh's visit in a Persian-language post on X on Wednesday, writing: "Like you, like your ambassador: an undesirable person."

This comes amid an escalation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis in Yemen, where the latter claimed responsibility on Tuesday for attacks on an Aramco site and Riyadh airport, after Saudi authorities reported a strike on a building belonging to the oil giant. Riyadh has been subjected to unprecedented daily attacks for over a week, marking an escalation in the war between the Iran-linked Houthis and the Riyadh-led military coalition, which supports the Yemeni government.

Additionally, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened on Wednesday to empty and strike Beirut's southern suburbs and expand the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon if Hezbollah joins Iran in attacking Israel amid rising tensions in the region.