President Joseph Aoun Defines Washington Proposal as "Last Chance" for Ceasefire and Demands Respect for Lebanon's Sovereignty

President Joseph Aoun Defines Washington Proposal as "Last Chance" for Ceasefire and Demands Respect for Lebanon's Sovereignty

The Presidential Palace of Lebanon has issued decisive statements regarding the country's geopolitical future. President Joseph Aoun categorized the new U.S.-mediated truce proposal as the "last viable opportunity" to establish a comprehensive and definitive ceasefire with Israel.

The announcement follows the conclusion of a complex fourth round of bilateral negotiations held at the U.S. Department of State in Washington.

Diplomatic Tensions and Behind-the-Scenes

The ratification of the text faced moments of severe impasse in Washington. Due to the lack of prior guarantees for a total cessation of hostilities, the head of the Lebanese delegation, Simon Karam, temporarily suspended the country's participation in the dialogue sessions. The talks were only resumed following the direct intervention of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

According to the Lebanese Executive:

Implementation Window: The peace plan features a rapid activation timeline, estimated at 24 hours once formal consent and compliance guarantees are secured from all internal political forces, including Hezbollah.

International Guarantor: President Aoun directly pointed to the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump as the sponsor and guarantor of the treaty's practical execution.

Confronting External Interference

In a sharp diplomatic turn during an interview with the CNN television network, President Joseph Aoun publicly demanded an end to Tehran's meddling in Lebanese politics.

"This is not your country, it is ours (...) You do not have to intervene in our country," the Head of State declared.

This stance was backed by Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who urged the Iranian government to stop using southern Lebanese territory as a "lever of pressure" or a bargaining chip in its own strategic negotiations with the United States.

Territorial Plan and Security Challenges

The operational core of the agreement projects the implementation of "pilot security zones" in southern Lebanon, covering the perimeters of Zawtar al-Sharqiya, Zawtar al-Gharbiya, Yahmar, and the surroundings of Beaufort Castle. Under this governance:

1. The Lebanese Army will assume absolute and exclusive territorial control over the designated regions.

2. The complete demobilization and withdrawal of any non-state armed actors from these areas is mandated.

Domestic Hurdles: The government acknowledges the high complexity involved in executing the plan. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem formally rejected the terms drafted in Washington, conditioning any progress on the immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces, which continue to maintain incursions in southern Lebanon.

The Presidency of the Republic reaffirms that, despite the obstacles on the ground, consolidating national sovereignty through the legitimate Armed Forces remains the non-negotiable priority of the Lebanese State.