Tehran, June 6: Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has sharply criticized Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s recent comments regarding negotiations. Through a social media post, he advised Aoun to recognize the real enemy.
Araghchi shared a clip of Aoun’s interview, in which the president accused Iran of using Lebanon as a bargaining chip. Aoun stated that Iran should cease its manipulative tactics and engage in genuine dialogue.
In response, Araghchi sarcastically remarked, “It seems from President Aoun’s words that Iran has occupied one-fifth of Lebanon, displaced a quarter of its population, and is bombing daily.” He further urged, “Mr. President, protect Lebanon from its true enemies.”
In an interview with CNN, Aoun expressed concerns over Iran’s interference in Lebanon’s internal affairs. He accused Iran of treating Lebanon as a pawn in its negotiations with the United States, asserting, “This is not your country; it is ours. Using us for bargaining is unacceptable.” He also appealed to Hezbollah, stating that the resolution of the conflict lies not in violence or war, but solely in dialogue and diplomacy.
Meanwhile, the Lebanese army has also come under attack. According to Reuters, the Lebanese army reported that on Friday, several soldiers, including an officer, were killed in an attack targeting an Israeli military vehicle on the Khardali-Nabatiyeh road in southern Lebanon.
The Lebanese army has been cautious to avoid involvement in the clashes between Hezbollah and Israel, consistently attempting to distance itself from the conflict.
Following a joint airstrike by the U.S. and Israel on February 28, Hezbollah began launching missiles at Israel. This prompted retaliatory strikes from Israel starting March 2, which have resulted in over 3,500 confirmed deaths in southern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese health ministry. Recently, a ceasefire was discussed with U.S. mediation, yet ground and air attacks continue.
Lebanon’s state news agency NNA reported that on Friday, around 21 people were killed in Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon. Among the deceased were a municipal council member, two Syrian children, and a paramedic who was providing aid. The Lebanese health ministry condemned the targeting of rescue workers as a violation of international humanitarian law.
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