AhlulBayt News Agency: The visit to Beirut of the Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi amid the Israeli military escalation and attacks against Lebanon made the most important headlines in the region in recent days, grabbing the attention of the observers about the issues of discussion and the outcomes of this visit to see its influence on the fast-moving regional developments, especially the US and Israeli push to disarm Hezbollah.
These days, Lebanon is facing an interwoven web of political, economic, security, and sovereignty challenges and the top Iranian diplomat’s visit seems aimed at helping Beirut survive the current and the upcoming multiple crises.
The key point was the accompanying Iranian economic delegation as Araghchi said that economic cooperation was one of the main priorities of this trip.
In a series of intensive meetings with various Lebanese officials, Iran’s FM has reaffirmed Tehran’s commitment to expanding trade exchanges between the two countries. He expressed hope that the joint economic commission would convene at the earliest opportunity.
Recently, the political relationship between Tehran and Beirut has been challenged under the new Lebanese government led by Joseph Aoun. External pressures from the US, Israel, and Saudi Arabia, along with the involvement of figures from anti-Hezbollah factions in the cabinet, such as Foreign Minister Youssef Raji, have obscured the historical and brotherly ties between the Iranian and Lebanese peoples. Media narratives have amplified the notion that Lebanon’s resistance identity, in alliance with Iran and the Axis of Resistance, is diminishing.
However, it is crucial to acknowledge that without Hezbollah’s political sacrifices to end the political stalemate and facilitate the formation of a new government to address reconstruction efforts and implement the terms of the November 2024 ceasefire, a government reflecting such divergent views from the Lebanese populace would likely never have come to be.
Amidst these challenges, public concern in Lebanon is largely driven by ongoing economic pressures from the US and military threats from Israel. The repeated positions of some government leaders against Hezbollah’s arms have exploited these anxieties, while failing to address the underlying issue of direct interventions and pressures from the US and Saudi Arabia, which seek to advance disarmament agendas on behalf of Tel Aviv.
Encouraged by the Lebanese government’s policies, the US and Saudi Arabia in recent months have embarked on a “carrot and stick” policy in dealing with Lebanon for Hezbollah to give in on its resistance and surrender its arms at the end of the road. Earlier, Lebanese government approved the US-proposed disarming plan behind the closed doors. According to the plan, presented by the US special envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack, the army, beside gradual demilitarization of the regions on the border with the occupied territories south of Litani River, was tasked with full disarming of Hezbollah by end of 2025 according to an ultimatum.
Despite repeated threats from the Israelis and Americans of waging another war on Lebanon, as well as ongoing air assaults and continued destruction of infrastructure that has claimed civilian lives during this period, the situation was successfully managed thanks to the steadfastness of Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Sheikh Naeem Qassem and his courageous positions. The Lebanese army also demonstrated that, contrary to the expectations of foreign parties and the harsh statements from some government officials, confronting Hezbollah is not in the best interest of the country’s stability and security. Army negotiators have been committed to completing the implementation of Beirut’s obligations under the ceasefire agreement and have called for the opposing side to fulfill its commitments by withdrawing from the occupied territories in the south and ending aggressive air and artillery attacks.
Under these circumstances, it seems the Lebanese government is now more open to negotiating with Hezbollah based on logical principles and the resistance's red lines regarding preserving defensive capabilities, unifying internal positions against the Israeli occupation, implementing political, economic, and administrative reforms, and prioritizing the reconstruction of war-torn areas and smoothing the challenging and intricate path ahead. This marks a shift from their earlier uncompromising approach, which saw them reject supportive proposals from Iran during a visit to Beirut of the Secretary-General of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani’s. Even Foreign Minister Youssef Raji of Lebanon declined an invitation to Tehran for talks. In this context, Araghchi remarked in his press conference that all Lebanese officials he spoke with agreed that the enemy of all Lebanon is the Israeli regime, which poses a threat to all, not part, of Lebanon.
Indeed, in the new course, Iran can be the leading foreign actor helping the Lebanese government and political forces move past the challenges and disputes. In his meetings with Lebanon’s officials, Araghchi underscored the need to protect Lebanese independence, national sovereignty and territorial integrity against the Israeli aggression and destructive foreign interventions, adding that Iran’s solidarity with the Lebanese government and people against the Israeli violations rest on this principle and Tehran believes that decisions on Lebanon’s foreign and home policy are a Lebanese affair that must be made based on understanding and national dialogue among various segments of the Lebanese society.
Araghchi’s emphasis on expanding economic cooperation as a primary goal of this visit, along with his assurance to Beirut officials regarding the Islamic Republic’s principled stance on Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity against the threats posed by the Israeli regime, is essentially an effort to express support for the Lebanese people in overcoming their challenges.
Stressing that the Islamic Republic of Iran has been following the policy of goodwill cooperation with neighbors more vigorously than ever after the 12-day war the Israeli regime and the US waged against it in June, Araghchi maintained: “Regional countries now have a better understanding of the challenges and Israeli threats and so the ground is now better prepared for cooperation between Iran and regional countries, and my visit to Lebanon is the start of a new chapter of cooperation that includes an all-out relationship.”
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