On October 12, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf piloted a flight to Beirut, amid Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon. Qalibaf, who is a former commander of the IRGC Air Force, visited the Lebanese capital at the invitation of Nabih Berri, the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament and leader of the Shia Amal movement, according to Iranian media reports.
Upon landing, Qalibaf addressed the media, reaffirming Iran’s solidarity with Lebanon. He conveyed a message from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stating, “We always stand by the Lebanese nation and government and will be at their service in difficulties.” His visit follows Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s trip to Lebanon on October 4.
Later, Qalibaf is set to travel to Geneva for the 149th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), where he will address the assembly about “the Israeli regime’s crimes against the people of Gaza and Lebanon” and emphasize the roles of the Palestinian and Lebanese resistance groups in defending their nations.
Iran has also expressed its readiness to provide humanitarian assistance to Lebanon, including medical aid, and has been coordinating relief efforts with the Lebanese government, as confirmed by the Permanent Mission of Iran to the United Nations. Iran stressed the need for a ceasefire and relief efforts as the top priority.
