Lebanese President: I Value the Memorandum of Understanding and Look Forward to Turning It into Practical Steps to End the Cycle of Violence

SadaNews - Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated today, Monday, that he has been closely following the memorandum of understanding reached between the United States and Iran, and "what it entails regarding the affirmation of halting military operations and escalation in the region, including Lebanon."

He mentioned, "I appreciate what this memorandum contains regarding respect for Lebanese privacy and the acknowledgment that Lebanon's stability and security are an integral part of any serious endeavor to establish stability in the region, following the sacrifices and heavy burdens carried by the Lebanese during the past phase."

Aoun continued, "The Lebanese people, especially those from the areas that endured attacks and destruction and lost their loved ones, livelihoods, and homes, today look forward to these understandings transforming into practical steps that definitively end the cycle of violence and lay the foundation for a phase of stability, security, recovery, and reconstruction."

He expressed gratitude to all countries and parties that contributed to the achievement of this memorandum and to everyone who worked to include Lebanon in efforts aimed at ending the escalation and halting military operations on various fronts, recognizing the extent of the suffering endured by the Lebanese in recent months.

The Lebanese president concluded by stating, "Lebanon hopes this development will represent the beginning of a broader path that enhances stability in the region, preserves the sovereignty of states and the rights of their peoples, and allows the Lebanese to focus on rebuilding what has been destroyed and restoring their normal lives in a secure and stable state."

An official Lebanese source said today, Monday, that Beirut has not yet been informed of the terms of the Iranian-American agreement announced by Pakistan, confirming that the ceasefire includes Lebanon.

Since the announcement of the agreement, the tempo of Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon has decreased, with the Lebanese agency reporting intermittent Israeli artillery shelling.

The terms of the agreement have not been officially announced yet, but Iran, through its Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharib Abadi, confirmed that the agreement "immediately and permanently halts the war". Meanwhile, Pakistan has stated that the agreement includes Lebanon, a demand that Tehran insisted upon during the arduous negotiations ongoing since the declaration of a ceasefire on April 8, which has not been effectively respected.

An official Lebanese source, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated, "Lebanon has not been informed of the terms of the agreement or the date of the ceasefire."

In a brief statement, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri praised the content of the agreement. He thanked Iran and the United States "for their commitment and insistence on including in the agreed memorandum a fundamental and binding clause to halt the Israeli aggression against Lebanon, all of Lebanon, while preserving its sovereignty over its entire territory."

No statement has yet been issued by Hezbollah regarding the agreement, but the party has not claimed responsibility for any attack against Israeli forces since after midnight Sunday to Monday.

On the other hand, several Israeli officials have made statements rejecting withdrawal from Lebanese territories. Sources indicated that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has informed President Donald Trump that Tel Aviv will not withdraw from southern Lebanon, and that the army will continue to be deployed in its current positions while continuing to carry out operations aimed at thwarting what it describes as threats from Hezbollah, including the destruction of its infrastructure and responding to any attack targeting Israel. He stated that his country does not consider itself bound by the understandings proposed with Iran regarding the ceasefire in Lebanon.

In southern Lebanon, journalists reported a slight return of displaced persons in the early morning hours to towns and villages that experienced Israeli airstrikes and repeated evacuation warnings since the outbreak of the latest war on March 2.