Lebanese President Aoun slams Hezbollah, Iran in CNN interview: 'It's not your country'

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun directly challenged Hezbollah and its Iranian backers in a CNN interview, asserting that the Lebanese people are not aligned with Hezbollah's agenda and are weary of the ongoing conflict.

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They deserve not seeing their homes destroyed every five to ten years.

"They deserve not seeing their homes destroyed every five to ten years," Aoun told CNN's Christiane Amanpour, describing the war as "futile." He accused Iran of exploiting Lebanon for its own gain, stating, "You are not trying to help us. The people of Lebanon are paying the price." Aoun specifically criticized Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for linking Lebanon to potential US-Iran ceasefires, calling it unacceptable and emphasizing, "It’s not your country, it’s our country."

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You are not trying to help us. The people of Lebanon are paying the price.

Aoun also extended an olive branch to Israel, advocating for negotiations as the sole path to regional safety and security. He questioned whether Israelis desired a life of "perpetual war" and declared Lebanon's commitment to peace talks. "We are ready, we are willing, we are committed [to negotiations]," he stated. "If you [Israel] are not, you will never live in peace, safety, and security.” He believes both Lebanese and Israelis are exhausted by war, viewing negotiations as a "huge opportunity."

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It’s not your country, it’s our country.

This comes as the US State Department announced Israel and Lebanon had agreed to a ceasefire following US-led negotiations. However, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem rejected the US-backed ceasefire, calling it a "roadmap for the annihilation of a section of the Lebanese people and the enslavement of the rest." Qassem vowed that "As long as the occupation exists, the resistance will continue."

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We are ready, we are willing, we are committed [to negotiations].