U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Lebanon is not part of the memorandum of understanding signed between the United States and Iran, and that Lebanon's future will be determined by Lebanese citizens alone, not by outside powers. He made the remarks as he arrived in Abu Dhabi at the start of a Gulf trip that also includes the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain.
Rubio said Washington is in direct contact with the Lebanese government, and that the issue of Iran's proxies in the region will be raised later in continuing talks with Tehran. He added that an end to the fighting in the Middle East will not be possible if Iran-backed groups keep firing rockets, a reference to ongoing tensions on multiple regional fronts.
His comments come amid growing international pressure on the Lebanese arena to strengthen the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, after recent clashes threatened to disrupt the negotiation track between Washington and Tehran. While the U.S. administration says the Lebanese issue is not part of the nuclear or political deal with Iran, Washington still views Lebanon's stability and border security as part of broader regional security.
In a separate remark, Rubio said international law does not allow any country to impose fees or taxes on international waterways. The statement came against the backdrop of ongoing disputes over shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. He said freedom of navigation on international waterways is a well-established principle of international law, and that the United States is monitoring developments related to shipping and energy in the region.
