What will Aoun tell Trump about Hezbollah’s weapons?

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has asserted that Hezbollah's continued allegiance to Iran is a primary obstacle to progress, stating that issues will only be resolved when the party's loyalty shifts to Lebanon. Aoun emphasized that addressing Hezbollah's influence cannot be achieved through force, as the party commands significant popular support beyond its military capabilities.

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as long as Hezbollah’s allegiance is to Iran, there will be no progress.

During an upcoming visit to Washington, Aoun intends to convey to U.S. President Donald Trump that the issue of Hezbollah's weapons must be addressed internally within Lebanon. He plans to advocate for a comprehensive social, economic, and security strategy to tackle the root causes of the weapons' presence. Aoun stressed that disarmament is an arduous process, particularly since Hezbollah's weapons are hidden rather than stored in specific barracks.

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The issues will be resolved when the party's allegiance becomes Lebanese, not Iranian.

Aoun expressed cautious optimism regarding potential positive developments in the southern conflict within the coming week. He views President Trump's invitation to the White House as a significant opportunity to directly explain Lebanon's history and current situation to the U.S. administration. Aoun aims to impress upon Washington the critical need for stronger motivation and greater interest in ensuring adherence to a framework agreement, highlighting that America's credibility is at stake.

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The party is not just weapons, but also an environment (popular base), therefore, matters cannot be resolved as easily as some imagine.

He also plans to discuss how cooperation with Hezbollah can proceed to resolve the weapons issue, rather than focusing solely on disarmament. Aoun believes that framing the discussion around cooperation is more pragmatic given the dispersed nature of the weapons. He indicated that if Hezbollah fails to cooperate in efforts to end the war in the south, it will bear responsibility for its decision and demonstrate its allegiance lies with Iran, not Lebanon.

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The crucial point is to address the root cause of the weapons' presence in the party's hands.