LIVE, war in the Middle East: Tehran casts doubt on its participation in the talks and says it is ready to play “new cards on the battlefield”

“The choice of negotiations aims to put an end to hostilities and the Israeli occupation in regions of southern Lebanon, and to deploy the army [libanaise] up to the internationally recognized borders” with Israel, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on Monday, quoted in a presidential press release. Former Lebanese ambassador to Washington, Simon Karam, will chair the Lebanese delegation “in bilateral negotiations”, which will be “separate” from the talks between Iran and the United States, he continued.

Faced with the reluctance of part of the population, President Aoun insisted on the sovereignty of Lebanon in these discussions announced by Donald Trump. “No one will share this task with Lebanon, nor replace it in this mission,” he assured, calling for “the broadest possible national support” so that the talks achieve their objectives.

“Lebanon has two choices, either the continuation of the war with its humanitarian, social, economic consequences (…) or the negotiations to end the war and achieve lasting stability,” insisted the head of state, while the two countries have officially been in a state of war for decades.