Lebanese President Joseph Aoun rejected attempts to tie Lebanon’s future to the Iranian negotiations, declaring that “we are now separate from the Iranian situation and the Islamabad agreement.” He also urged all parties to give the US-sponsored framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel a chance, accusing both Tehran and Tel Aviv of trying to undermine it. Hezbollah has also rejected it. Aoun warned that if Hezbollah refuses to cooperate with efforts to end the war in South Lebanon, “it will bear responsibility for its decision” and prove that it places Iran’s interests above Lebanon’s. The Lebanese state is pressing ahead with US-mediated negotiations with Israel despite Hezbollah’s continued rejection and insistence on retaining its weapons. The diplomatic track has won broad international backing and growing support among Lebanon’s Christian parties. On Friday, the Lebanese Forces reiterated that “there is currently no alternative to negotiations.” Speaking to journalists on Friday, Aoun said war had proved futile and that negotiations, backed by US guarantees, offered the best path forward. He noted that Hezbollah’s stated objectives — an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, the return of bodies, and reconstruction — are the same goals Lebanon has pursued in talks with Israel under US mediation. “The difference is the means,” Aoun said, reiterating that war “is not a good option.” He urged all parties to give the agreement a chance while warning that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “always wants to complicate matters,” adding that Iran is doing the same. Turning to Hezbollah’s weapons, Aoun said: “As long as the party’s choice is Iranian, there will be no point. Matters will be resolved only when its choice becomes Lebanese rather than Iranian.” He stressed that Hezbollah cannot be dealt with by force because it is not just an armed groups “but also a social constituency.” Trump meeting Ahead of his July 21 meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington, Aoun said he would present “the true reality in Lebanon today,” seek continued US support for the Lebanese Armed Forces, and call for an international conference to support Lebanon. He described Trump’s invitation to the White House as a “golden opportunity” to tell the US administration that “America’s credibility is at stake” in implementing the framework agreement. He added that resolving Hezbollah’s weapons issue requires cooperation with the group rather than simply talking about “disarmament,” noting that the weapons are concealed in numerous locations rather than stored in identifiable military barracks. Aoun also revealed that Lebanon has yet to appoint its representative to the committee established under the Washington-Tehran memorandum of understanding following the Islamabad negotiations, pending a formal US request, particularly since Iran has not yet named its own representative. He stressed that he, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri “do not want sedition or internal fighting,” adding: “We are now separate from the Iranian situation and the Islamabad agreement.” At the same time, he cautioned that any broader regional conflict would inevitably spill over into Lebanon. On the border issue, Aoun said talks with Israel would be confined to the 13 disputed border points. He also disclosed that Lebanon had sent Syria a border file and was still awaiting a response. Geagea Meeting a delegation from the Lebanese Forces led by party chief Samir Geagea, Aoun pledged not to retreat from negotiations, saying the framework agreement could restore Lebanon’s rights through diplomacy, provided Israel respects it. He argued that criticism of the process stems from attempts to place the Lebanese file back in Iran’s hands. Geagea endorsed the negotiating track, saying Lebanon cannot function without “one army and one set of arms.” Decisions on national issues and the Israeli presence must be made by the Lebanese state, not by any political party, he urged. “None of us is enamored with the agreement, but at present we have no alternative but negotiations,” he remarked. In contrast, Hezbollah MP Hussein Hajj Hassan dismissed the agreement as one imposed by the United States on both Israel and Lebanon’s authorities, which he said lack negotiating experience and represent only part of the Lebanese people. Rejecting what he described as threats to bring in foreign forces to disarm Hezbollah, he said neither foreign troops nor the Lebanese authorities would succeed in stripping the “resistance” of its weapons.
