Israeli Minister Ben-Gvir under Investigation in Italy over Gaza Flotilla

Lebanon finds itself caught in a geopolitical tug-of-war, with President Joseph Aoun openly condemning Iran for leveraging the country as a bargaining chip in its international negotiations. The recent Iranian missile attack on Israel, a retaliation for strikes on Beirut, is seen by some as an attempt to bolster Iran's leverage in ongoing talks in Pakistan.

Hezbollah, a powerful Iran-backed group, is adamant about including Lebanon in the Pakistan negotiations. This stance directly conflicts with the Lebanese state's efforts to pursue U.S.-sponsored negotiations with Israel independently. The situation highlights a deep division within Lebanon, with some factions aligning with Iran's regional agenda while the state seeks to reclaim its autonomy.

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The Lebanese state, represented by President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, has now succeeded in reclaiming the initiative for the first time since 1969

Former MP Fares Souaid of the Saydet El Jabal Gathering noted that Lebanon has a long history of foreign powers dictating its decisions, from the Palestine Liberation Organization to the Syrian regime. However, he believes the current Lebanese state, represented by President Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, has successfully regained initiative for the first time since 1969, with significant U.S. backing. Washington's support stems from a desire to disentangle Lebanon's specific issues from Iran's broader negotiations.

Souaid expressed skepticism about Iran's claims to be the sole facilitator of Lebanon's demands, particularly regarding an Israeli withdrawal. He stated that Iran's assertion that Lebanon cannot achieve its goals without Iranian intervention is a narrative that is likely to fail. Meanwhile, an image posted by the Iranian embassy in Beirut, showing clasped hands with the Lebanese and Iranian flags, and the message "always with you," has sparked mixed reactions online, reflecting the complex and divided sentiments within Lebanon regarding Iranian influence.

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Iran has been trying to claim that the Lebanese negotiations with Israel are a farce and that Lebanon will be unable to achieve its demands, or impose an Israeli withdrawal without it. Iran has been claiming that it alone will be able to achieve this [for Lebanon], but it will fail