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Lebanese President Joseph Aoun accused Iran of using Lebanon in its fight with Israel and the United States, while calling for direct talks with Israel and pushing for Hezbollah’s disarmament.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun delivered a sharp message to Tehran, accusing Iran of treating Lebanon as a tool in its conflict with Israel and the United States.
In an interview with CNN, Aoun addressed Iran’s Revolutionary Guard directly, saying, “It is not your country, it is our country.”
He said the Lebanese people are the ones paying the price for Iran’s agenda, especially through Hezbollah, the Iran-backed terror group that has dragged Lebanon into repeated wars with Israel.
Aoun said Lebanon is ready for direct negotiations with Israel to secure a ceasefire and end the long state of war between the two countries.
“We are tired and we want to live in peace,” Aoun said.
He added that Lebanese citizens do not deserve to see their homes destroyed every few years because of Hezbollah’s war machine and Iran’s influence.
Aoun said he wants to persuade Hezbollah to give up its weapons, though he admitted the process would be difficult and costly.
He also said many Lebanese, including members of the Shiite community, are exhausted by war and do not see themselves as followers of Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi rejected Aoun’s accusations and claimed Israel is Lebanon’s “real enemy.”
In a post on X, Araqchi said that if Lebanon were truly a bargaining chip in Iran’s hands, a deal would have been reached long ago.
The comments come as Israel continues operations against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah has refused to discuss disarmament before an Israeli withdrawal and continues to present negotiations as surrender.
Israel has made clear it cannot allow Hezbollah terrorists to operate freely along its northern border. Any lasting ceasefire will require Hezbollah to stop attacking Israel and withdraw its forces south of the Litani River.
Aoun’s message is clear: Lebanon belongs to the Lebanese people, not Iran, and not Hezbollah.
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