US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that the Lebanon file is separate from the Iran file because Lebanon is a sovereign state with its own elected government, according to his remarks. Rubio added that Washington will negotiate and operate through the Lebanese government, and that Lebanon's future belongs to its people.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated Tuesday evening the administration's position that the Lebanon negotiating track is distinct from the Iran nuclear file, stating that Lebanon is a sovereign state with its own elected government. His remarks — which follow a similar statement made earlier Tuesday (first reported Tue 19:08 Jerusalem) — come amid ongoing diplomatic contacts between Washington, Beirut, and Jerusalem over the future of the northern border and Hezbollah's disarmament.
Rubio's framing draws a clear policy distinction between the two fronts. In the initial reports at Tue 19:08 Jerusalem, Israeli media quoted Rubio stating that the war cannot end as long as Iran's proxies continue launching rockets, and that the Lebanon file is separate from the Iran file. Over the subsequent versions published at the same timestamp, the secretary added that no nation may levy tolls on an international waterway, rejected any linkage between the Lebanon talks and US-Iran nuclear/security discussions, and stated that Washington will negotiate directly with the Lebanese government. The remarks contrast with Iranian statements that have linked an end to hostilities in Lebanon to a broader agreement with the United States.
Rubio's comments come after Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Wednesday that Lebanon is conducting its own independent negotiations, as The Zioneer reported on Wed Jun 17, 15:30 Jerusalem. They also align with calls by Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib at the Arab League on Tuesday, urging Arab states to support an independent Lebanon-Israel negotiation channel, as The Zioneer reported at Tue 16:17 Jerusalem. The statement further highlights a growing gap between Jerusalem and Washington over the Iran deal's implications for Israel's northern front: a senior Israeli cabinet minister argued over the weekend that Lebanon is an Israeli red line and must not be subject to the 'Iranian equation,' as The Zioneer reported on Sun Jun 14, 20:25 Jerusalem.
It remains open whether the US position — separating the fronts — will be accepted by Iran or by Hezbollah, which has historically linked its actions to developments in the nuclear talks. No direct response from Tehran or Hezbollah to Rubio's remarks has been reported as of Tuesday evening.
7 developments
- StrongLebanese FM urges Arab states to back independent Lebanon-Israel negotiation track
- DevelopingRubio tells Iran: decide if you are a state or a revolutionary movement
- StrongLebanese President Aoun insists no settlement will be made at Lebanon's expense
- DevelopingReport: US envoy Rubio faces tough task persuading Gulf allies to restore ties with Iran
Source and signal
- Internal intake