Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi makes unannounced visit to Beirut

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has made an unannounced visit to the Lebanese capital Beirut, as the Israeli military has stepped up its air strikes and ground offensive across the Arab country.

“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 Crescent Society will meet with Lebanese high-level officials shortly,” new Spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Esmaeil Baghaei, wrote in a post published on the social media platform X on Friday.

He added that a package of 10 tons of foodstuff and medicine will also be delivered as part of Iran’s humanitarian assistance to Lebanon.

The Iranian diplomat further reiterated the Islamic Republic’s solidarity with the brave Lebanese nation.

“The whole region should recognize the critical situation that Lebanon faces, and its dire implications for the future of our nations,” Bagheri pointed out.

Araghchi reiterates Iran’s support for Lebanon against Israeli aggression

Later in the day, Araghchi met and held talks with Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and reaffirmed his country’s unwavering support for the Lebanese government, nation and resistance front in the face of the atrocities of the Israeli regime.

During the meeting, Araghchi extended the sincere condolences of the Iranian government and nation on the martyrdom of Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and other innocent Lebanese nationals as a result of the terrorist and brutal Israeli attacks and restated Tehran’s unflinching support for Lebanon in the struggle against the Tel Aviv regime.

The top Iranian diplomat stated that the volume and severity of the barbaric crimes being committed by the Zionist regime attest to the fact that such acts are clear examples of serious international crimes.

Araghchi then stressed the need for an all-out effort by Muslim and Arab countries to shed light on the dimensions of the illegal and criminal actions of the Israeli regime, and to mobilize international organizations and institutions in order to adopt a collective action aimed at cessation of Israeli aggression.

For his part, Mikati briefed Araghchi on the latest situation in Lebanon, terming Israel's acts of aggression as a real example of war crimes.

While he lamented the inaction of the UN Security Council against the dangerous adventures of the Zionist enemy, the Lebanese prime minister appreciated the support of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Lebanese government and people amid unrelenting Israeli strikes.

Araghchi’s visit to Lebanon marks the first visit by a high-ranking Iranian official since an Israeli strike killed Secretary-General of Hezbollah resistance movement, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, in the Dahieh neighborhood of southern Beirut last week.

Israel launches new airstrikes in Lebanon, 37 killed, 150 injured

Lebanon’s Health Ministry says 37 people were killed, and over 150 were injured in Israeli strikes on Thursday.

On Tuesday evening, Iran responded to the Israeli assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah chief, and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) general Abbas Nilforoushan by launching as many as 200 ballistic missiles toward the Israeli regime’s military and intelligence bases all over the occupied Palestinian territories.

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