One of Iran’s top advisers traveled to Lebanon for high-stakes war negotiations amid ongoing fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah.
Ali Larijani, a top adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, visited Beirut on Thursday. The trip coincided with fresh Israeli airstrikes on the southeastern outskirts of the Lebanese capital, marking a continuation of regional tensions.
“The main aim of our visit is to loudly say that we will stand by Lebanon’s government and people,” Larijani told reporters after separate meetings with parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati.
Is Israel Still Attacking Lebanon?
A photograph taken by The Associated Press showed the dramatic moment an 11-story residential building in the Tayouneh area, located just a few miles from central Beirut, was struck by a bomb and erupted into flames on Friday.
Hassan Ammar/AP
Although no casualties were immediately reported, the bomb struck the lower levels of the building, reducing much of it to rubble. The Israeli military, which had issued a prior warning, described the target as a Hezbollah facility.
Ongoing War Negotiations
The U.S. has been working to mediate an end to the hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. Lebanese media reports indicate that U.S. Ambassador Lisa Johnson has presented a draft proposal aimed at ending the Israel-Hezbollah conflict to Berri, who has been acting as Hezbollah’s chief negotiator in the talks.
AFP via Getty Images/Getty Images
A Lebanese official confirmed Friday that Johnson had met with Berri but declined to comment on whether a draft proposal was delivered. Speaking on the condition of anonymity due to restrictions on discussing the ongoing negotiations publicly, the official offered no further details.
The U.S. Embassy did not confirm or deny the reports.
The New York Times also reported this week that tech billionaire Elon Musk recently met with Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations.
The Times reported that two Iranian officials said the discussion between Musk, a close ally to President-elect Donald Trump, and Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani on Monday addressed how to ease tensions been the U.S. and Iran. One of the officials said it was Musk who requested the meeting.
Efforts for a Cease-Fire
On Thursday, the 10 elected members of the United Nations Security Council introduced a draft resolution calling for an “immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasef-ire” in Gaza.
The draft resolution, submitted to the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, reaffirms the council’s call for “the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages” taken during Hamas‘ October 7 attacks on southern Israel last year, which killed around 1,200 Israelis and led to 250 people being held hostage, sparking the current conflict. Israeli officials estimate that around 100 hostages remain in captivity, though not all are believed to have survived.
The United States, Israel’s closest ally, is pivotal to the Security Council’s decision on adopting the resolution. The other permanent members—Russia, China, Britain, and France—are anticipated to either back the measure or abstain.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.