Officials in Lebanon were vocal about firmly rejecting that their country being tied to Iran as Washington and Tehran carry out negotiations about ending the conflict in the region.
The officials, who are largely opposed to Iran-backed Hezbollah, said the current phase demands support to the Lebanese state as the sole authority in any negotiations, rejecting Iranian attempts to include Lebanon in its negotiations with the US.
In an open letter to US Vice President JD Vance, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said the greatest form of backing to Lebanon lies in supporting the state and its legitimate institutions as the sole national authorities.
Any negotiations or discussions about Lebanon should be held with the state alone, keeping Iran “permanently” away from the Lebanese file, he urged.
He added that the rise of a “sovereign, free and capable” state that can provide stability for all Lebanese people lies in supporting the state in imposing its authority throughout Lebanese territories, restricting the possession of weapons to the legitimate institutions and ending Hezbollah’s military and security presence.
Kataeb leader Sami Gemayel warned said that Iran was “trying to save what remains of Hezbollah’s” military power “so that it can use it whenever needed and whenever it is in danger.”
Speaking at a press conference, he stressed: “Lebanon sacrificed ten times what Iran did during the war as confirmed by Iranian parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.”
“The Lebanese state must demonstrate to the world that it exists and that it speaks and acts. It is time for the Lebanese army to implement decisions. No more excuses,” he added.
“No matter the outcomes of the negotiations, we will not coexist with Hezbollah,” he declared. “They must commit to the conditions of the Lebanese state. The majority of the Lebanese people are not prepared to live as hostages to Hezbollah.”
“Hezbollah’s weapons arsenal is the only obstacle preventing Lebanon’s revival. Land will not be liberated, the displaced will not return home and we will not live in peace as long as militias operate on our territories,” Gemayel said.
Reconstruction, the return of expatriates and creation of job opportunities are tied to the rise of the state and imposing state monopoly over arms, he went on to say.
MP Fouad Makhzoumi echoed Gemayel’s remarks, saying: “Real sovereignty is achieved through one state, one army, and one voice responsible for national decisions.”
Lebanon cannot reclaim its sovereignty and voice as long as Hezbollah’s weapons remain outside state control and as long as decisions of war and peace are taken outside legitimate institutions, he added.
The Saydet al-Jabal Gathering warned that Lebanon was facing a new attempt to usurp its voice through Iran’s insistence on using it as a bargaining chip in its negotiations with the US.
It accused Iran of seeking to obstruct the US-sponsored direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel.
“The absolute national priority lies in the state claiming its complete sovereignty and decisions of war and peace,” he added. It must also insist on ensuring the success of its negotiations with Israel, away from foreign hegemony or dictates, to end the Israeli occupation.
“Keeping Lebanon’s fate attached to regional calculations does not in any way benefit the Lebanese people,” it stressed.
Meanwhile, over 400 Lebanese figures, including expatriates, launched an appeal to rally behind the state and its legitimate institutions.
The “Call to Save Lebanon” also backs the negotiations with Israel and rejects any foreign hegemony over Lebanon.
It threw its support behind President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in fulfilling their vows to impose state monopoly over arms and rejecting any partisan or foreign attempts to negotiate on Lebanon’s behalf.
