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Lebanese President Criticizes Hezbollah, Accuses Iran of Interference
🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

Lebanese President Criticizes Hezbollah, Accuses Iran of Interference

From Dong-A Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Lebanon's President Michel Aoun directly criticized Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem, stating he does not represent the Lebanese people.
  • Aoun accused Iran of using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the U.S. and interfering in Lebanese affairs.
  • The President expressed readiness for talks to end the conflict with Israel, not ruling out a meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu under specific conditions.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun has issued a rare and strong public rebuke of Hezbollah leadership, directly challenging the authority of Naim Qassem, the deputy secretary-general of the Iran-backed militant group. Aoun stated unequivocally in a CNN interview that Qassem does not speak for the Lebanese people, a day after Qassem rejected a ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel.

The Lebanese people are not your people.

— Michel AounPresident Aoun directly addressing Hezbollah's deputy secretary-general Naim Qassem during a CNN interview.

"The Lebanese people are not your people," Aoun told CNN's Christiane Amanpour, directly addressing Qassem. He conveyed that Lebanese citizens across various sects, including Shiites, are weary of the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. "People have the right not to see their homes destroyed every five to 10 years," Aoun added, emphasizing that the population looks to him to end the war.

People have the right not to see their homes destroyed every five to 10 years.

— Michel AounPresident Aoun describing the weariness of the Lebanese population with the ongoing conflict.

President Aoun also turned his criticism towards Iran, accusing Tehran of exploiting Lebanon as a pawn in its negotiations with the United States and interfering in the country's internal affairs. "You are not helping us. The Lebanese people are paying the price for your interests," Aoun stated, asserting that Iranian and Lebanese interests are not aligned. He specifically condemned the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) for demanding Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon as part of a U.S.-Iran truce talks, calling it "unacceptable."

You are not helping us. The Lebanese people are paying the price for your interests.

— Michel AounPresident Aoun accusing Iran of using Lebanon for its own benefit.

While acknowledging the deep-rooted influence of Hezbollah, which was founded with Iranian backing in the 1980s, Aoun reiterated his commitment to disarming the group and halting Israel's military advances. He expressed Lebanon's readiness and commitment to negotiating an end to the hostilities, stressing that lasting peace and stability are impossible otherwise. Aoun did not rule out the possibility of meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but only after a comprehensive agreement to end the war is reached.

They are using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the United States.

— Michel AounPresident Aoun criticizing Iran's actions regarding Lebanon's role in U.S.-Iran talks.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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