Screenshot source: X/@ActualidadRT
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, along with senior Tehran officials in the capital, made a rare public appearance on Tuesday, joining pro-regime marches in the city on the occasion of “Islamic Republic Day.”
“Amid rising tensions in the Middle East and persistent threats from Iran’s top leaders, officials were seen casually mingling with participants, taking selfies, and moving through the crowd with no visible security.
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Araqchi told reporters: “I came to be among them to draw the energy of the movement on the ground and enjoy this unity and popular cohesion.” Videos of their participation quickly spread on social media, Ynet News reported.
The last time Pezeshkian and Araghchi were seen in public was on “Iranian Quds Day,” alongside former security chief Ali Larijani, who was killed days later in a US-Israeli raid.
Their appearance comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly listed “10 strikes” against Iran, including strikes targeting the country’s top leadership, and claimed that Israel was “systematically crushing the terrorist regime.”
In his statements before the European Council, Pezeshkian affirmed Iran’s readiness to end the ongoing conflict, provided that “the basic conditions are met – especially the guarantees required to prevent the recurrence of aggression.” These statements reflect Tehran’s counter-proposal to the US 15-point plan, which calls for mechanisms to prevent Israel and the United States from resuming hostilities.Araqchi confirmed the existence of ongoing contacts with the US envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, but denied that these constituted negotiations.
He told Al Jazeera, “What is happening now is not negotiations, but rather an exchange of messages directly or through our friends in the region.” “We have not sent any response to the US 15-point proposal. Our conditions for ending the war are clear. We will not accept a ceasefire.”Reports indicate that Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqir Qalibaf were temporarily removed from US and Israeli hit lists about a week ago to allow for possible talks, which has not yet happened. The Iranian leadership confirmed its readiness to defend the country in any scenario.
