A Lebanese political figure opposed to Hezbollah harshly criticized the US-Iran agreement in an interview with N12, saying it was a "stupid own goal" that weakens Lebanon and effectively leaves the country in Tehran’s hands. The comments came as Israel and Lebanon resumed direct talks in Washington on Tuesday, alongside the separate US-Iran negotiations.
According to the source, Lebanon is pressing three central demands in the talks: an Israeli withdrawal from parts of southern Lebanon, maintaining the ceasefire, and establishing a fixed border between the two countries. The Lebanese side wants a partial Israeli pullback so the Lebanese Army can clear the area, while preserving some defensive freedom of action for the IDF.
The Israeli delegation is expected to arrive with maps and propose a pilot plan for a limited withdrawal from a small area in southern Lebanon. Lebanese forces would enter the vacated zone under American supervision and keep it free of Hezbollah activity. Anti-Hezbollah figures, the source said, view the pilot as a test of whether the Lebanese Army can actually stop Hezbollah from reasserting itself under heavy public pressure.
The political source said the direct talks are important because Lebanon wants to show it is in control. He argued that Israeli concessions would help reinforce the idea that the Lebanese government, not Iran or Hezbollah, is the sovereign authority. He added that agreeing on a future border line would strengthen the public perception that the Israeli presence is temporary. He also said Lebanon conveyed its displeasure with the US-Iran memorandum to Washington, and complained that Hezbollah supporters are celebrating while opponents feel abandoned by the United States.
