Iran’s foreign minister lands in Lebanon
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi landed in Beirut, Lebanese state media report, just hours after Israeli air strikes hit the airport’s perimeter. “An Iranian plan has landed at the Rafik Hariri International Airport with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on board,” the Lebanese National News Agency said.
It is the first visit by a top Iranian official since an Israeli strike killed Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut last week.
Araghchi is set to meet Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and speaker of parliament Nabih Berri, who is a close ally of Iran-backed Hezbollah, according to his schedule.
Iranian foreign minister’s visit to Lebanon an ‘act of defiance’
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived a short while ago via Beirut’s international airport. No doubt the visit is seen as an act of defiance.
Last week the Israeli military threatened to target Iranian, Syrian or what it calls “hostile” planes because it believes they have been using the Beirut airport not for civilian purposes.
Many here in Lebanon thought they had been abandoned. But now they believe Iran is showing solidarity – especially after it fired ballistic missiles at Israel – that it wants to change the equation, that Iran’s message is it’s ready to use force to help Hezbollah.
But right now there are also efforts to reach an agreement on a new president and government. So this is Iran saying: we also have a seat at the negotiating table.
Iran calls for support from regional countries for Lebanon
The Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says he is visiting Lebanon “to make clear that Iran will always stand with people of Lebanon”. “We invite other regional governments to also display steadfastness in their support for Lebanon, especially amid onslaught by Israeli regime,” he said on X.
The Iranian officials and local media confirmed the visit earlier amid Israel’s ongoing attacks on Lebanon.
Iran’s IRGC to hit Israeli energy sites if attacked: Report
Iran will target Israeli energy and gas installations if Israel attacks it, according to the semi-official Iranian news agency SNN, quoting Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) deputy commander Ali Fadavi.
“If the occupiers make such a mistake, we will target all their energy sources, installations and all refineries and gas fields,” Fadavi said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said after Iran’s missile barrage this week that it “made a big mistake” and “will pay for it”.
Iran’s IRGC said on Tuesday it fired missiles at Israel in response to deadly Israeli attacks against people in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as the assassinations of top IRGC, Hamas and Hezbollah leaders.
Iranian FM says country stands by Hezbollah during Beirut visit
During a visit to Beirut, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has promised harsher retaliation if Israel strikes Iran in response to Tuesday’s missile barrage. In a news conference, he said the attack was “legitimate self-defence based on the UN Charter”.
“Unlike Israel, which targets residential areas, we only attacked military centres,” Araqchi said. “We do not intend to continue the attacks unless the Zionist regime chooses to continue its attacks.”
He said his presence in the city under bombardment signals Iran’s support for Hezbollah and expressed backing for a ceasefire in Lebanon, contingent on Hezbollah’s approval and a simultaneous ceasefire in Gaza.
