Diplomatic Shuffle: Iran and Lebanon's Foreign Ministers Switch Plans

Lebanon and Iran are engaged in a delicate diplomatic ballet.

The Invitation

• Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raji declined an offer to visit Tehran.
• But, he didn't close the door on talks.
• Instead, he extended an invitation to Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi to visit Beirut.

The Response

• Araqchi accepted the invitation.
• He expressed understanding for Raji's reluctance to visit Tehran.
• His reasoning: "If we're friends, why can't we just hang out at either of our places?"

The Context

• Raji emphasized Lebanon's desire to start fresh with Iran.
• He spoke of building a strong state where the government is in charge.
• This hints at the ongoing debate about disarming Hezbollah, the group backed by Iran.

The Back-and-Forth

• Both countries want to talk.
• They are still figuring out how to make it happen.
• It's like planning a playdate, but everyone's trying to decide whose house is best for the meetup.