After meeting with Speaker of Parliament “Nabih Berri” in Ain El Tineh, Iranian Foreign Minister “Abbas Araghchi” stated that one of the main focuses during his meetings in Lebanon was strengthening economic and trade ties between the two countries, noting that both sides possess great energies, potentials, and capabilities that allow for the development of this cooperation.
“Araghchi” affirmed that his country has strived during the visit to open a new chapter of relations on various levels, in a way that serves the mutual interests between Lebanon and Iran.
On the other hand, he saw that the current events in Iran are very similar to what happened in Lebanon in 2019, explaining that the reason back then was the rise in the price of hard currency, which is the same problem Iran is facing today. He pointed out that the government has started a dialogue with various segments of the people to address the crises, but he clarified that the difference, according to him, lies in what the “Americans” and the “Israeli side” have stated about their direct intervention in the current unrest and their attempts to turn the protests into acts of violence, considering that the evidence for this is the multiple statements of “American” and “Israeli” officials.
The statements of Iranian Foreign Minister “Abbas Araghchi” come within the framework of an official visit to Lebanon, which he began by arriving at the headquarters of the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beirut, where he held a meeting with his Lebanese counterpart “Youssef Rajji,” dedicated to discussing regional developments and bilateral relations between the two countries.
Later, “Araghchi” went to Baabda Palace where he met President “Joseph Aoun,” and presented him with the goal of his visit, which is to strengthen economic relations between Lebanon and Iran, and he also briefed him on the results of the meetings he held yesterday and today in Beirut. During the meeting, it was emphasized that Lebanon aspires to build relations with Iran based on the relationship between the two peoples, provided that the technical details related to this cooperation are discussed between the concerned ministers.
In this context, the Iranian minister suggested the idea of forming joint committees including the competent ministers to follow up on files of common interest. The visit comes in the context of a series of diplomatic contacts that Beirut has witnessed recently with regional and international officials, in light of the Lebanese government’s efforts to expand its network of foreign relations and strengthen economic cooperation with various countries, in parallel with the rapid developments on the regional scene.
