To CNN, president of Lebanon warns Iran: "This is not your country"

The president of Lebanon criticized Iran in an exclusive interview with CNN this Friday (5), accusing the country of exploiting his nation as a bargaining chip in the war against the United States and Israel.

Joseph Aoun demanded that the Iranian regime stop interfering in Lebanese affairs. He also told CNN journalist Christiane Amanpour that the Lebanese people are "fed up" with the war between Israel and Hezbollah.

Addressing Iran, the president said: "You are not trying to help us... the people of Lebanon are paying the price... in the name of their own interests," adding: "our interests... do not coincide with yours."

He also directed criticism at the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iran's elite military force, saying: "This is not your country, it is our country."

Aoun countered a Guard statement released on Wednesday (3) that called for Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon as part of a ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran.

"They are using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in their negotiations with the USA. This is unacceptable", he highlighted.

Fragile ceasefire agreement in Lebanon
The president spoke to CNN as the ceasefire with Israel remains uncertain. The understanding with Israel was reached on Wednesday, but remains conditional on the complete cessation of Hezbollah attacks and the total withdrawal of all members of the group from southern Lebanon.

"It was a difficult negotiation; until we made a big breakthrough", reported Aoun, adding that the agreement could be a path to a "just and lasting peace".

Hezbollah rejected the deal on Wednesday, saying it does not guarantee Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

Understand what Hezbollah is and how the Lebanese group came about

Source: CNN