Lebanon’s capital Beirut served as the stage for Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s unyielding message: Iran seeks no fight with the U.S. or Israel but will hit back hard if attacked again.
Upon landing Thursday, Araghchi addressed the press, floating the prospect of U.S. nuclear talks—but only on equal footing, free from Washington’s dictates. The timing is tense, echoing the June war’s 12 brutal days, including American assaults on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
Launching his Lebanon tour, Araghchi proclaimed the foes’ prior attacks a ‘total strategic bust.’ ‘Dare to try again, and suffer the fallout,’ he warned.
‘War isn’t our choice, but preparedness is our duty,’ he clarified, doubling down on negotiation willingness: ‘Let talks be rooted in respect and joint benefits, leading to real gains.’
Back home, Iran’s streets simmer with fury. Inflation bites hard, rights demands fuel endless demos into week two, and bullets fly in confrontations. Trump’s Truth Social salvo—hinting at U.S. rescue missions for citizens—drew Tehran’s ire as blatant meddling and lies.
Through this prism, Araghchi’s outreach in Beirut reinforces Iran’s dual strategy: diplomatic engagement paired with military vigilance. Observers see his rhetoric as a calculated pivot, testing waters for de-escalation while fortifying defenses in a powder-keg region.