Lebanon’s foreign minister Youssef Raji has turned down, for now, an official invitation to visit Tehran, according to the Lebanese NNA news agency. Instead, Raji proposed that discussions with Iran be held in a neutral, mutually agreed-upon third country.

Raji said his decision stemmed from unspecified “current conditions,” while stressing that this should not be interpreted as a rejection of dialogue with Iran. The minister has not yet provided additional comment.

This move highlights the increasingly delicate position Lebanon finds itself in as Iranian-backed Hezbollah continues its aggression against Israel, drawing the region toward deeper confrontation. Calls for neutral ground signal Beirut’s attempt to reassert sovereignty and avoid giving Iran the appearance of dominance over Lebanese policy.