Iran Warns Against Israeli Aggression on Beirut, Signals Readiness to Respond

Iran's top diplomat has publicly disclosed details of a warning message conveyed to Washington regarding military operations targeting Beirut. Speaking to Al-Mayadeen TV, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi revealed that Tehran transmitted the communication to American officials just two days prior, calling for a cessation of Israeli strikes against the Lebanese capital.

Araqchi underscored that Iran's armed forces maintain full readiness to respond should Beirut face attack. He suggested that Tehran's explicit commitment to respond decisively to any aggression against the city has prompted other parties to reassess their strategic calculations.

"When Iran announced that it would respond categorically in the event of an attack on Beirut, they were forced to reconsider their calculations," Araqchi stated, emphasizing that both the United States and Israel have now gained clear visibility into Iran's military capabilities.

The Iranian Foreign Minister noted that diplomatic channels with the American side remain active, with ongoing exchanges of messages between the two countries. Yet he cautioned that substantive progress in negotiations has remained elusive thus far. Both sides are currently reviewing the texts that have been exchanged and working toward finalizing their respective positions.

Any return to the negotiating table, Araqchi stressed, must be predicated on safeguarding the interests of the Iranian people and halting military operations against Iran, Lebanon, and the broader region.

Araqchi attributed the conflict's origins to miscalculations by the United States regarding Iran's military strength. He noted that Western strategies aimed at degrading Iran's missile arsenal or inciting domestic opposition to the Iranian government have failed to materialize. He characterized American objectives, which he said include regime change in Iran, as fundamentally unrealistic. According to Araqchi, the ongoing conflict has demonstrated his nation's capacity to withstand prolonged confrontation and maintain its defensive posture.