Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said his country is seeking to open a new chapter in relations with Lebanon, at a time when Beirut is continuing with plans to disarm Tehran's most potent proxy.
Mr Araghchi spoke in Beirut, where he held talks with Lebanese leaders including President Joseph Aoun, and called for strengthening economic and trade ties
Iran has been rocked by protests that began last month over economic hardship.
Mr Araghchi said he wanted to “open a new chapter” in Lebanon-Iran relations, after meeting Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.
He also met with Hezbollah's leader Naim Qassem. Hezbollah said it was a comprehensive meeting that encompassed local, regional and global events, including the standoff with Israel. No photos were initially released of the meeting.
Earlier on Friday, he spoke to Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi during a "friendly yet frank" meeting in Beirut, despite their previous well-publicised disputes.
Mr Araghchi has sought to paint his trip to Lebanon as one with an important economic angle, at a time when the Lebanese army says it has completed stage one of the disarmament of Hezbollah, Tehran's most potent proxy.
Mr Raggi said they had a “frank discussion” and described Mr Araghchi as “a friend, despite differences in perspectives”.
Mr Araghchi was invited to Beirut by Mr Raggi, one of the Lebanese government's most outspoken critics of Hezbollah. Mr Raggi had earlier turned down Mr Araghchi's invitation to travel to Tehran, saying “current conditions were not ideal”, and instead proposed a third-country meeting.
Mr Araghchi's visit came as protests over economic woes in Iran entered their 13th day. The demonstrations, which began in Tehran last month, have spread to all of Iran's 31 provinces, with internet connectivity down across the country.
The Iranian minister later met Mr Aoun, who said: “Lebanon is prepared to strengthen economic and trade relations and is keen on establishing the best relations with Iran within a framework of mutual respect and non-interference in the affairs of the two countries.”
Hezbollah and Iran have repeatedly criticised the Lebanese government's move to disarm the group. Comments by Iranian officials have also drawn rebukes from Lebanese leaders, who say they undermine the country’s sovereignty.
Mr Raggi said he wanted better relations with Iran but that he “would have preferred Iranian support to be directed exclusively to the Lebanese state and its institutions, rather than to any other party”.
The talks came on the second day of Mr Araghchi's visit. He is later met Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.
On Thursday, Lebanon's army said it completed the first phase of its disarmament plan in the South Litani region, near the Israeli border. In response, Israel said efforts to disarm Hezbollah by the Lebanese military and government were an encouraging start but far from sufficient.
On Friday, the Israeli military said it carried out attacks on alleged Hezbollah weapons storage facilities and a production site for weaponry, in southern Lebanon. Israel has repeatedly claimed – without providing evidence – that Hezbollah is seeking to rebuild and rise again. Lebanese officials and the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon say they have seen nothing to support the Israeli claims.
Israel continues to occupy five points of Lebanese territory and carries out regular attacks on southern Lebanon and elsewhere.
