Key facts
- Lebanese President Joseph Aoun accused Iran of using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in US negotiations.
- Aoun stated that the Lebanese people are paying the price for Iran's interests.
- Hezbollah initiated hostilities over three months ago in solidarity with Iran.
- Iran has linked a Lebanon ceasefire to any peace deal with Washington.
- Hezbollah rejected a US-mediated ceasefire plan.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun accused Iran of using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in its negotiations with the United States. In an interview with CNN, Aoun stated that the people of Lebanon are paying the price for Iran's interests and are 'fed up' with the war between Israel and Hezbollah. He explicitly said Iran is using Lebanon in its negotiations with the US, calling it 'unacceptable.' Hezbollah, founded by Iran's Revolutionary Guards, initiated the current hostilities more than three months ago in solidarity with Iran. Aoun, a Maronite Christian, has previously called for Hezbollah's peaceful disarmament and has advocated for face-to-face talks with Israel, putting him at odds with the group. Iran has previously linked a ceasefire in Lebanon to any potential peace deal with Washington concerning the wider regional conflict. Hezbollah, however, rejected a ceasefire plan that had been agreed upon by Lebanese and Israeli government officials during US-mediated talks in Washington, with Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem stating that the agreement was rejected by 'broad segments of the Lebanese people.' Aoun responded to Qassem by saying, 'The Lebanese people are not your people.' Israeli attacks since March have resulted in thousands of deaths and displaced approximately 1.2 million people in Lebanon.