One day after returning to Washington from a Swiss negotiating summit, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance said on Tuesday that the talks with Iran over Lebanon are not meant to give Tehran a role in deciding Lebanon’s future. In a letter to Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, Vance wrote that the United States sees Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and the Lebanese government as the only legitimate leaders of the country.
Vance said Washington wants to work with Lebanon’s institutions in a way that strengthens the government’s sovereignty and increases its authority over the country. He added that the objective of the talks is to ensure Iran pressures Hezbollah to fulfill its commitments, not to secure any Iranian role in Lebanese decision-making.
“Iran will not determine Lebanon’s future,” Vance said, stressing that the negotiations about Lebanon were never intended to grant Tehran any part in shaping the state’s future. He added that he is following developments in Lebanon closely together with other senior officials in the U.S. administration.
“The United States remains committed to Lebanon and supports its legitimate institutions,” he said, underscoring continued American backing for Beirut’s official authorities.
