FM says Iran welcomes dialogue with Lebanon
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that the Islamic Republic welcomes any dialogue aimed at strengthening relations with Lebanon after his Lebanese counterpart invited him for negotiations.
“My dear friend, Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji, has invited me for negotiations in an interview with MTV Lebanon,” Araghchi wrote in Arabic on his X account on Friday.
“We do not interfere in Lebanon’s internal affairs, but we welcome any dialogue aimed at advancing bilateral relations between Iran and Lebanon,” he added.
Rajji said earlier on Friday that he sees “no taboo” when it comes to the interests of the Lebanese people and called on his Iranian counterpart to hold talks in a third and neutral country to address alleged issues between Iran and Lebanon.
In response, Araghchi noted that there is no need for a third party to facilitate such discussions. “I invite my colleague Youssef to travel to Tehran, and if I am invited to travel to Beirut, I will gladly accept,” he stated.
Iran has repeatedly reiterated that it respects Lebanon’s sovereignty and does not interfere in the Arab country’s domestic affairs.
Back in August, the Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), Ali Larijani, expressed the Islamic Republic’s unwavering support for the government and people of Lebanon in various circumstances, dismissing allegations that Iran seeks to interfere in Lebanon’s internal affairs.
Larijani also urged the Lebanese politicians to carefully differentiate between friends and foes, noting that Iran never treats its Lebanese allies as “tools,” and the Lebanese resistance does not require guidance from others.
Iran has always supported Lebanon’s government and its resistance movement Hezbollah against Israel. However, Beirut under US pressure has decided to disarm the resistance movement which has played a key role in countering Israel’s threats against Lebanon.