Aoun reaffirms commitment to the Framework Agreement: War or Diplomacy
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stressed that “the relationship with Iran must be state-to-state, based on mutual respect and without interference in internal affairs.”
Speaking before the “Task Force for Lebanon” delegation on Monday, Aoun affirmed that “Israel will not be able to achieve its goals through the mere use of military force, destruction, and killing of innocents.”
He added, “Either war or diplomacy; there is no third option,” emphasizing that Lebanon remains committed to negotiations and the “Framework Agreement,” seeking to “strengthen this framework and achieve breakthroughs on certain files, such as the prisoners’ file, borders, the experimental zone, and the ceasefire.”
Aoun noted that Lebanon is awaiting a new round of negotiations “to see how progress can be made forward,” confirming that Lebanon “has taken this initiative and is committed to it,” because war “will not yield any results,” and therefore “this situation can only be addressed through diplomacy.”
Aoun stressed that Lebanon relies on the United States to implement the “Framework Agreement” as its sponsor, describing the US as “serious, committed, and doing its utmost.” He pointed out that while Lebanon faces difficulties in implementing the agreement, it “does not want to retreat; rather, it seeks to strengthen this framework.”
Regarding southern Lebanon, the President emphasized the importance of supporting the Lebanese Army, which he described as “professional, committed, and highly trained,” but which requires “the necessary capacities and means to carry out its missions.” He also called for assistance in rebuilding the south.
Aoun criticized Israel’s approach to the war, stating that Israel “thinks at the tactical level but neglects the strategic level,” and that “massive destruction, large-scale military retaliation, and the killing of innocents do not help.” He affirmed that Israelis “will never be able” to achieve their goals using military force alone.
The Lebanese President also discussed the outcomes of his meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington, mentioning discussions on the “Framework Agreement,” the importance of the presence of UNIFIL forces in the south, the decision to open air routes between Lebanon and the United States, US investments in Lebanon, and the proposal of a vision to establish a “strategic, economic, and security partnership with the United States.”
On the file of reforms and combating corruption, Aoun confirmed that Lebanon has returned to the “right track” after the setback caused by the war, highlighting work on a law for bank restructuring, followed by a law addressing the financial gap, alongside the preparation of laws to combat corruption. He considered “e-government” and the “judiciary” as two fundamental pillars in this regard.
For his part, Lebanese Army Commander Major General Rodolphe Heikel discussed with the head of the Special Military Coordination Group for Lebanon, US General Joseph Clerfeld, “developments in the south and security arrangements related to the Framework Agreement, and the difficulties faced by the army in carrying out its missions, primarily the continued attacks and acts of excavation and destruction by the Israeli occupation,” according to the official National News Agency.
Both sides also affirmed “the importance of supporting the army in light of the missions it is carrying out in the south and various regions of Lebanon.”
