Lebanese president accuses Iran of using Lebanon as bargaining chip in US talks

The Lebanese president also said his government is willing to engage in efforts aimed at ending the war.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun accused Iran of using Lebanon as leverage in its negotiations with the United States and said his government is prepared to pursue direct negotiations with Israel to end the conflict, according to an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour.

In the interview, Aoun said Lebanon has paid the price for regional conflicts and rejected what he described as Tehran’s treatment of his country.

“It’s not your country, it’s our country,” Aoun said, addressing Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. “(Iran is) using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in their negotiation with US.”

He added: “You are not trying to help us … the people of Lebanon are paying the price … for the sake of your own interest,” and said that “our interests … do not coincide with your interests.”

Aoun said the Lebanese public is exhausted by years of conflict and expressed support for a negotiated end to the fighting.

“We are fed up and we want to live in peace,” Aoun said. “(Lebanese people) deserve to live in peace and in dignity; they deserve not seeing their homes being destroyed every five to 10 years.”

The Lebanese president also said his government is willing to engage in efforts aimed at ending the war.

“We are ready, we are willing, we are committed (to negotiations to end the war),” Aoun said. “If you are not, you will never live in peace, safety and security.”

According to CNN, Aoun said Lebanon and Israel have a “great opportunity” to end their state of hostility and allow both populations to live in security. He added that both peoples “are fed up with war since 1948.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected Aoun’s characterization of Tehran’s role in Lebanon.

“Had Lebanon been a bargaining chip for Iran, we’d have a deal long ago,” Araghchi said, responding to clips from the interview.

Aoun also criticized Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem, saying Lebanese Shiites opposed continued conflict with Israel.

“They are Lebanese people. They are not Naim Qassem’s people,” Aoun said.

Despite his criticism of Hezbollah, Aoun said the group’s disarmament would require negotiations and persuasion rather than force.

“I will try… to negotiate and reason with them,” he said. “Eventually they will be persuaded, but the cost will be high.”