Lebanese Pres Aoun blasts Iran, urges peace with Israel, says nation is ‘fed up’ with war

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told CNN veteran journalist Christiane Amanpour that the country is "fed up" with the ongoing war between the Iran-backed terror group Hezbollah and Israel in Lebanon.

“We are fed up and we want to live in peace,” Aoun said during an interview at the presidential palace in Beirut and aired on Friday. He added that the people of Lebanon "deserve to live in peace and in dignity; they deserve not seeing their homes being destroyed every five to 10 years.”

Although Lebanon and Israel do not have diplomatic relations, Aoun said Lebanon is prepared to end decades of war.

“We are ready, we are willing, we are committed (to negotiations to end the war),” Aoun told Amanpour. “If you are not, you will never live in peace, safety and security,” he continued, addressing the Israeli government.

“This is a huge opportunity. They both have to choose: war or… diplomacy,” the Lebanese leader argued. “I prefer negotiations over wars. I don’t want my children … and I don’t want the people in Lebanon to live the same hardship,” he said. “The best way forward is diplomacy.”

However, Aoun acknowledged that diplomacy faces significant obstacles, including Hezbollah's continued attacks on Israel and Iran's influence in Lebanon.

While senior Israeli and Lebanese officials have been negotiating in Washington as part of broader ceasefire efforts, Hezbollah has continued violating the truce with attacks on Israeli soldiers and civilians, prompting the Israeli military to intensify strikes against Hezbollah targets across Lebanon.

The Lebanese government has also struggled to curb Hezbollah’s military activities. In March, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam accused the group of dragging Lebanon into a conflict that runs counter to the country's national interests, saying, “We will not allow the country to be dragged into new adventures, and we will take all necessary measures to apprehend the perpetrators and protect the Lebanese people.” However, the government has so far been unable or unwilling to prevent Hezbollah from launching attacks against Israel.

Hezbollah has repeatedly drawn Lebanon into conflict with Israel over the years. The group launched an unprovoked attack in 2006, triggering the Second Lebanon War. It opened a front against Israel again on Oct. 8, 2023, one day after Hamas terrorists invaded southern Israel from Gaza, and massacred 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped 251 people.

In March 2026, Hezbollah launched another attack on Israel following the elimination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and about 40 senior commanders by the U.S. and Israel. The Lebanese government responded by banning Hezbollah’s military activities.

While criticizing Israeli military operations in Lebanon, Aoun accused the Iranian regime of undermining Lebanon’s sovereignty through its proxy Hezbollah.

“It’s not your country, it’s our country,” he emphasized during the interview with Amanpour, pointing to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which finances, arms and trains Hezbollah operatives in Lebanon. Furthermore, the Lebanese leader accused Iran of using Lebanon in the ongoing ceasefire negotiations with Washington.

“(Iran is) using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in their negotiation with US,” Aoun said. “You are not trying to help us … the people of Lebanon are paying the price … for the sake of your own interest,” he continued, adding, “our interests … do not coincide with your interests.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi denied that Tehran was using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in the talks with Washington.

“Had Lebanon been a bargaining chip for Iran, we’d have a deal long ago,” he said. “Save Lebanon from your real foe, Mr. President,” Araghchi continued, likely referring to the Jewish state.

After initially ordering Hezbollah to attack Israel, Tehran now seeks to save a weakened Hezbollah by linking a ceasefire in Lebanon to the ongoing de-escalation with the United States.