Overview
- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said he would travel to Beirut for talks after receiving a formal invitation from Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raji.
- Araqchi called Raji’s stance “bemusing” and argued that countries with full diplomatic relations do not need a neutral venue for ministerial meetings.
- Raji had cited “current conditions” for declining travel to Tehran, while proposing talks in Beirut and urging a new phase grounded in mutual respect, sovereignty, and non-interference.
- The exchange unfolds as Lebanon advances a U.S.-endorsed plan to place all weapons under state control by the end of 2025, a move Hezbollah rejects and Iranian officials criticize.
- Araqchi referenced Israeli occupation and alleged ceasefire violations, while Raji separately warned of reports of an Israeli military operation, criticized Hezbollah’s refusal to disarm, and accused Iran of destabilizing Lebanon.