Iranian FM Abbas Araqchi announces support for a ceasefire in Lebanon amid Beirut visit
By JERUSALEM POST STAFF, REUTERSOCTOBER 4, 2024 09:58Updated: OCTOBER 4, 2024 16:28 Iran's top nuclear negotiator Abbas Araqchi attends a meeting of the JCPOA Joint Commission in Vienna, Austria, June 28, 2019. (photo credit: REUTERS/LEONHARD FOEGER/FILE PHOTO)
Tehran supports a ceasefire that would be 'acceptable to the Lebanese people' and synchronized with one in Gaza.
Tehran backs efforts for a ceasefire in Lebanon on the condition it would be backed by Hezbollah and simultaneous with a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a special visit to Beirut on Friday.
"We support efforts for a ceasefire on the condition that it would be acceptable to the Lebanese people, acceptable to the resistance, and thirdly, it would be synchronized with a ceasefire in Gaza," he said.
Araghchi, accompanied by Iranian officials, landed in Beirut on Friday, according to Lebanese state media.
A Reuters live broadcast showed an Iranian-flagged plane landing at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport just hours after air strikes hit outside the airport perimeter overnight.Advertisement
According to his schedule, Araqchi is set to meet Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, a close ally of Iran-backed Hezbollah.
Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati heads a cabinet meeting, at the government palace in Beirut, Lebanon April 4, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/MOHAMED AZAKIR)
Iranian support and retaliation
Following the Iranian delegation's landing, Esmael Baghaei, Head of the Center for Public Diplomacy and Spokesperson at the Iranian Foreign Ministry, posted on X/Twitter that “a package of 10 tons of foodstuffs and medicine will also be delivered as part of our humanitarian assistance to [Lebanon].”
According to the post, the Iranian delegation, led by Araghchi, includes two members of the Iranian Parliament and the head of Iran’s Red Cresent Society.
Greetings to #Lebenon :Just landed at #Beirut Int'l Airport. Our delegation led by FM @Araghchi and accompanied by two members of Parliament and Head of Iran's Red Cresent Society will meet with Lebenese high-level officials shortly. A package of 10 tons of foodstuff and…
Baghaei also emphasized Iran’s “steadfast” support of “brave” Hezbollah, stressing that “the whole region should recognize the critical situation” the organization was facing.
After Tehran's October 1 attack on Israel, many senior Israeli officials have called for retaliation. Iran has said that it will target Israeli energy and gas installations if Israel attacks it.Advertisement
"If the occupiers make such a mistake, we will target all their energy sources, installations and all refineries and gas fields," the semi-official Iranian news agency SNN quoted Revolutionary Guards deputy commander Ali Fadavi as saying on Friday.
