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Iranian FM Abbas Araqchi announces support for a ceasefire in Lebanon amid Beirut visit

 
 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)
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.

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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)
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.


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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.

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"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. 

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