Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, along with top Tehran officials in the capital, made a rare public appearance on Tuesday, joining pro-regime rallies in the city to mark “Islamic Republic Day.”“Amid rising tensions in the Middle East and threats to senior Iranian leaders, officials were seen mingling casually with participants, taking selfies and moving through the crowd without visible security.
“I have come among them to take energy from the movement on the ground and to enjoy this unity and popular solidarity,” Araghchi told reporters. Videos of their participation quickly circulated on social media, Ynet news reported. Pezeshkian and Araghchi were last seen in public on “Iranian Quds Day” with former security chief Ali Larijani, who was killed in a US-Israeli strike a few days later.Their appearance comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly listed “10 adversities” against Iran, including attacks targeting the country’s senior leadership, and claimed Israel is “systematically crushing the terrorist regime.”In comments to the European Council, Pezeshkian reiterated Iran’s willingness to end the ongoing conflict provided “the necessary conditions are met – in particular the necessary guarantees to prevent a recurrence of aggression.” These statements reflect Tehran’s counterproposal to the 15-point US plan, which calls for a mechanism that would prevent Israel and the United States from resuming hostilities.Araghchi confirmed ongoing communications with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff but denied that he had held any talks. “What is happening now is not a conversation, but an exchange of messages directly or through our friends in the region,” he told Al Jazeera. “We have not sent any response to the United States’ 15-point proposal. Our conditions for ending the war are clear. We will not accept a ceasefire.”Reports indicate that Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf were temporarily removed from the US and Israeli kill lists about a week ago to allow for possible talks, which have not yet taken place. The Iranian leadership stressed its readiness to defend the country in any situation.