USA: Hezbollah remains a terrorist organization and will not be a party to negotiations
Sources within the US administration confirmed that policy toward Hezbollah has not changed. The clarification followed remarks by US envoy Tom Burke, who suggested including the group in talks before retracting his statement.
Sources close to the US administration told the newspaper "Nidaa al-Watan" this morning (Thursday) that there has been no change in the US position regarding Lebanon, and Hezbollah is still defined by the US as a terrorist organization.
The sources added that the administration has not adopted any formula that includes Hezbollah as a political party in the negotiations led by the US. These remarks come against the backdrop of statements by the US envoy to Syria, Tom Burke, who claimed that a stable settlement in Lebanon requires the participation of the Iranian regime and Hezbollah at the negotiating table. Later, Burke retracted his statements.
Meanwhile, a senior official told the Lebanese newspaper "Al-Joumhouria" that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is making efforts to mobilize support and stop IDF strikes in southern Lebanon. According to the official, Aoun is pinning his hopes primarily on the US to compel Israel to adhere to the framework agreement.
He added:
"There is no approved date for a new round of direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel in Rome. The ball is in Israel's court. It is impossible to move to negotiations while Israel complicates the process of implementing the framework agreement and refuses to fulfill obligations."
On Wednesday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said at a meeting at his palace in Baabda that "negotiations with Israel are not easy or fast, and there are obstacles and difficulties, but it is far preferable to war."
In a conversation with a delegation of Maronite Christians, Aoun explained that the decision to conduct negotiations was taken to prevent the disasters caused by the war. He noted that the Lebanese have shared goals: the liberation of southern Lebanon, the deployment of the army along the borders, the release of prisoners, facilitating the return of displaced persons, and the reconstruction process. He emphasized that it has become clear these goals cannot be achieved through war.
"Building nations is a shared responsibility. The national interest must remain the top priority, above any personal interest, so that the state can recover," the Lebanese president told the delegation.
According to him, the government has taken steps toward economic and financial reforms, but the war has destroyed hopes for growth. "With this government, we have also started to address the issue of corruption that has been rampant for years. We are waging a war against elements that refuse to accept the logic of the state."
