Aoun accuses Iran of using Lebanon as a “bargaining chip” in its talks with the US

The president of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, accused the Iranian authorities this Friday of using his country as a “bargaining chip” in their conversations with the United States, which he considered “unacceptable”, and has defended the negotiations with the Israeli authorities against “military solutions”, ensuring that these will “never” provide protection to the populations of northern Israel.

“They are using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in their negotiations with the United States. It is unacceptable,” he said during an interview with the American television network CNN, in which he reminded Tehran that Lebanon “is not their country” and that “it is not their job to interfere” in it.

The president has shown his “rejection” of Iran’s alleged protection of Lebanon, alleging that “they are killing” the Lebanese and “destroying” their homes. “Hezbollah must understand that there is no other way than to sit down and talk, there is no other way to resolve this problem and save what remains, except through negotiation and diplomacy (with Israel),” he defended.

In this sense, Aoun has assured that the Lebanese authorities are “prepared, willing, committed” to dialogue with the neighboring country. “We are tired of wars, but you must show the will and commitment to end this war for the good of both peoples and both sides of the border,” he said.

Thus, he has asked Israelis if they want to live in a “perpetual war.” “Aren’t you fed up with war since 1948? Do you really want to live in peace? Let’s sit down and talk. For the Israeli Government, the time has come for the power of reason to prevail over the reason of power,” he claimed, while defending that “military solutions will never provide security and protection to the population of the north” of Israel.

Aoun has not ruled out meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, although he has conditioned any meeting on an agreement to end hostilities on both sides of the border.

His words come after delegations from Lebanon and Israel held a round of talks in Washington this week, the fourth since March, without ending the Israeli Army’s bombing of Lebanese territory or the launching of projectiles by Hezbollah.

Since March 2, the day the parties resumed fighting, more than 3,500 people have died and 10,800 have been injured in Lebanon, while 28 soldiers have died in Israel.