Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on Monday that Lebanon welcomes international assistance to help end the war between Israel and Hezbollah but rejected any foreign interference in the country's internal affairs.
"We are a sovereign state, and no one negotiates on our behalf," Aoun said, according to a statement from the presidency. He added that only the state can protect all Lebanese and called for unity amid the ongoing conflict.
His remarks came as Lebanon prepares for a new round of talks with Israel scheduled to begin on Tuesday in Washington. Lebanese officials have said the negotiations are aimed at securing a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the restoration of full Lebanese sovereignty.
Iran-backed Hezbollah, however, sharply criticized the talks, accusing Lebanese authorities of following US directives and compromising the country's sovereignty.
In a statement, the Shiite militia said the negotiations amounted to "submission and surrender" and alleged that Lebanese officials were merely endorsing policies imposed by Washington. Hezbollah said it rejected both the talks and any outcomes resulting from them, arguing that negotiations undermine efforts to secure a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory.
The group further accused the government of acting unilaterally and responding to what it described as US and Israeli objectives, warning that the process could increase risks to Lebanon's stability, independence and sovereignty.
The Lebanese government has defended direct negotiations as the most effective path to ending the conflict, while insisting that Beirut's diplomatic track remains independent and focused on Lebanese national interests.
Speaking at a conference in Jerusalem, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said the conflict should be resolved through direct talks between Israel and Lebanon "and not through Iranian blackmail."
Linking Iran to Lebanon not only represented a constant threat to Israel, but also kept Lebanon weak and powerless. This would prevent the Lebanese president and government from making progress, Herzog said.
Disarming Hezbollah had to be a significant element in any solution for Lebanon, and Iran should not decide the country's future, he said. Israel and Lebanon were fully agreed on this, the Israeli president said.
The Lebanese government is not party to the current conflict between Israel and Hezbollah and is seeking de-escalation, while also attempting to reduce Iranian influence in the country.
