Tehran, June 6 -- Amidst escalating diplomatic frictions in West Asia, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has fiercely rejected allegations levelled by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who accused Tehran of exploiting Lebanon as a "bargaining chip" in its diplomatic manoeuvres with the United States to secure an end to the ongoing hostilities.

Deploying a highly sarcastic tone to deflect the criticism, Araghchi took to X to hit back at the Lebanese head of state, suggesting that Beirut was misidentifying its actual adversary.

"Based on Mr Aoun's comments, one would think it's Iran that has occupied 1/5 of Lebanon, displaced 1/4 of Lebanese and is bombing his country on a daily basis," the Iranian Foreign Minister wrote, pointing the...