Beirut: Lebanese Forces party leader Samir Geagea issued a statement welcoming the recent remarks by President Joseph Aoun, in which he stressed rejection of Iran's use of Lebanon as a bargaining card in regional negotiations and called for the disarmament of Hezbollah. Geagea said the President's position reflects a clear presidential will to end a long-standing abnormal situation in Lebanon, and affirms the authority of the state and its sovereignty. He added that these positions align with those of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, particularly regarding opposition to foreign interference and the need to uphold the constitution and state authority, referring to broad political and public support for this approach.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, Geagea expressed that President Aoun's affirmation reflects a clear Lebanese desire to establish a real and capable state, particularly targeting Iran and Hezbollah, whom he accused of treating Lebanon as a platform for their own projects, contrary to the will of the Lebanese people. He emphasized that Lebanon harbors no conflict with the Iranian populace, but rather with the leadership since the 1979 revolution, which he claims has used Lebanon as part of its regional strategy through armed groups operating independently of the state's authority.
Geagea highlighted that President Aoun's recent statements confirm the notion that the presence of weapons outside state control violates the constitution and the law. He referenced President Aoun's inaugural speech, which stressed the necessity of state monopoly on weapons, a principle reinforced by ministerial statements and Cabinet decisions on key dates, indicating a firm presidential commitment to this path. Geagea further noted that Lebanon can no longer endure the current stalemate.
The LF leader outlined two primary requirements: for Iran to cease interference in Lebanese affairs and respect the state's sovereignty, and for Hezbollah to comply with state directives by surrendering its weapons and ending its armed initiatives. Geagea warned that if Iran continues its current policy, the Lebanese government must take action, including the expulsion of the Iranian ambassador and enforcing decisions regarding arms control and state authority extension.
Geagea concluded that Lebanon's path to stability and peace lies in the full implementation of President Aoun's positions and the government's resolutions.