BEIRUT: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has conducted a high-profile diplomatic visit to Beirut, holding a series of meetings aimed at revitalizing bilateral relations between Tehran and Beirut, particularly in the area of trade.
During his visit on Thursday, Araghchi met with Lebanon’s Minister of Economy and Trade Amer al-Bisat.
In the talks, the Iranian foreign minister highlighted the long history of commercial exchange between the two countries and formally announced Iran’s readiness to expand economic cooperation.
Araghchi specifically called for the reactivation of the Iran-Lebanon Joint Economic Commission as a key mechanism to facilitate and accelerate bilateral trade.
Minister al-Bisat welcomed the initiative, outlining Lebanon’s ongoing economic reforms and reaffirming Beirut’s commitment to strengthening trade relations with regional partners, including Iran.
Discussions between the two delegations also covered several sectors of mutual interest, including tourism, agriculture, science, and culture. Both sides explored practical measures to ease commercial exchanges, such as reducing or eliminating trade tariffs.
Later on Thursday, Araghchi met with a group of Iranian and Lebanese business leaders and merchants to discuss opportunities for expanding private-sector cooperation.
Separately, the Iranian foreign minister held talks with Sheikh Ali al-Khatib, deputy head of Lebanon’s Supreme Shia Council.
During the meeting, Araghchi praised the council’s historical role in promoting national unity among Lebanon’s diverse communities and reiterated Iran’s policy of maintaining strong relations with all Lebanese factions.
Araghchi also paid a symbolic visit to the memorial of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the late leader of the resistance movement Hezbollah, who was martyred in an Israeli airstrike in 2024.
At the site, he delivered a speech reaffirming the Islamic Republic’s unwavering support for Lebanon’s national unity, independence, and resistance against Israeli aggression.
The Iranian foreign minister’s visit continues on Friday, with a focus on official government-level consultations.
Araghchi is scheduled to hold talks with his Lebanese counterpart, Youssef Raggi, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, President Joseph Aoun, and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.
