Jean-Noel Barrot

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will pay a visit to Türkiye, Egypt and Jordan as part of his Middle East tour to discuss ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, his office announced on Oct. 16.

Araghchi will engage in talks in a "diplomatic reach-out to countries of the region to end genocide, atrocity and aggression," the statement said.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati today called for a ceasefire with Israel after discussions with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, who is the first high-ranking Western diplomat to visit Beirut since the escalation of Israeli attacks against Lebanon.

Israel's foes vowed revenge on Saturday after Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah announced its longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli air strike on Beirut suburbs.

World powers also warned of the killing's potential repercussions, with the spectre of all-out war looming over the Middle East.

The United States, European Union, United Kingdom, and several other nations have called for an immediate temporary ceasefire in Lebanon amid escalating tensions between Israel and the Shiite group Hezbollah.

International calls for de-escalation of the conflict between Israeli forces and Hezbollah intensified on Wednesday, as the Israeli Chief of Staff announced preparations for a potential ground invasion into Lebanon. This move is aimed at targeting the Iran-backed Shiite movement, raising concerns of a broader regional war.

France has called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council following Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon. Egypt and Jordan have also urged the international body to step in, while numerous countries have voiced concern over the escalating conflict in the region.

Intense aerial bombardment by Israeli armed forces against Hezbollah killed at least 492 people in Lebanon on Monday, including 35 children, according to authorities in the country, which experienced its bloodiest day in nearly a year of border firefights alongside the war in the Gaza Strip.

STRASBOURG - The Council of Europe (CoE) Committee of Ministers did not debate the so-called Kosovo's CoE membership bid on Friday after it was not included in the final agenda adopted before the committee met in Strasbourg, Tanjug learns.