Lebanese FM Says Lebanon is Not Part of US-Iran Ceasefire

Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi said that Beirut is asserting its independence in handling negotiations with Israel, emphasizing that the Lebanese track is separate from broader US-Iran diplomacy.

In a statement following a call with his German counterpart, Raggi said Lebanon is conducting its own negotiations and is not part of the parallel talks involving Iran.

“I stressed that this track has in practice reinforced the separation between the Lebanese file and the Iranian track,” he wrote.

Raggi also underscored that the Lebanese government alone has the authority to negotiate on behalf of the country, in what appeared to be a pointed message toward both Iran and Hezbollah.

“The Lebanese state alone holds the authority to negotiate on behalf of Lebanon,” he said, describing it as a reaffirmation of national sovereignty in Lebanese diplomacy.

The comments come after reports that Iran sought to link developments in Lebanon to its own negotiations with the United States, including demands that any agreement address Israeli strikes on Hezbollah.

Raggi’s remarks indicate a rejection of that approach, framing Lebanon’s position as independent from Iranian interests and broader regional bargaining.

His statement also reflects an ongoing dispute over whether Lebanon should be considered part of the wider diplomatic track. Israel and the United States have maintained that Lebanon is not included in the Iran-related negotiations, while Iran and some European actors have argued that the issues are interconnected.

By stressing the separation, Raggi signaled Beirut’s intent to manage its own diplomatic path and to reinforce the principle that decisions regarding Lebanon are made by the Lebanese state alone.