Lebanese President Joseph Aoun launched a pointed attack on Iran on Friday in an interview with CNN, accusing Tehran of exploiting Lebanon as a bargaining chip in its standoff with the US and Israel.
"You are not trying to help us. The Lebanese people are paying the price for your interests. Our interests do not align with your interests," Aoun told anchor Christiane Amanpour, adding, "This is not your country – it is our country."
Aoun rejected a statement issued Wednesday by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps demanding that Israel withdraw from Lebanon as part of any US-Iran ceasefire deal. "They are using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in their negotiations with the US. This is unacceptable," he said.
In the interview, conducted at the presidential palace in Beirut, Aoun said the Lebanese people had grown "fed up" with the war between Israel and Hezbollah.
Aoun also turned his fire on Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassim, a day after Qassim rejected the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel. Qassim declared Thursday that the outcome of the direct negotiations was "purposeless, humiliating, and degrading to Lebanon," claiming it was "rejected outright by large swaths of the Lebanese people."
Lebanon's president to Iran: "It's not your country, it's our country... It's not your job to interfere in our country."
Aoun also accused Tehran of using Lebanon as a "bargaining chip" in its negotiations with the US, calling it "unacceptable." pic.twitter.com/05IZ2bhFmm
— Joseph Haboush (@jhaboush) June 5, 2026
The Lebanese president displayed photographs of Lebanese civilians killed in the war and said "entire families were wiped out" in Israeli strikes. "These are Lebanese people. These are not Naim Qassim's people," he said. Aoun noted that he had spoken with Lebanese from all communities – including Shiites – who were "fed up" with Hezbollah's war against Israel. "They deserve not to see their homes destroyed every five to ten years," he said.
Aoun then addressed Israelis directly, asking whether they "truly want to live" in "eternal war," and argued that "military solutions" would never bring security to residents of the north. "Haven't you had enough of war since 1948? Do you really want to live in peace? Come, let us sit and talk," he said, in an appeal to the Israeli government, adding, "The time has come for the power of reason to prevail over the reason of power."
"We are ready, willing, and committed to negotiations for ending the war. If you are not, you will never live in peace, security, and tranquility. We are ready. We are capable. And you?" he said. Aoun did not rule out a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – which would be the first ever between the leaders of the two countries – but made clear, "Not before we reach an agreement."
Aoun said in the interview that Netanyahu, together with Hezbollah, was waging a "futile war" that would never lead to "the desired outcome" for either side. In his telling, the Lebanese and Israeli peoples share a "great opportunity" to live in security and peace. "Both have been fed up with war since 1948. This is an enormous opportunity, and both must choose – war or diplomacy," he said. Referring to the ceasefire agreement, Aoun said, "It was a tough negotiation until we achieved a significant breakthrough," adding that the deal could serve as a path toward "a just and sustainable peace."
