Lebanese President Joseph Aoun engaged in discussions on Monday with senior officials from the United States and Qatar regarding efforts to consolidate a ceasefire in Lebanon and bolster broader regional peace initiatives. The talks followed a recent round of US-Iran negotiations held in Switzerland aimed at ending the wider Middle East conflict.
Aoun spoke by telephone with US Vice President J.D. Vance, senior presidential adviser Jared Kushner, US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, and Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani. The conversations centered on reinforcing adherence to the ceasefire in Lebanon, halting Israeli military escalations, and exploring the formation of a "de-confliction cell" intended to prevent renewed hostilities.
The proposal to establish this cell emerged alongside a memorandum of understanding signed last week between Washington and Tehran, which calls for an immediate and permanent cessation of military operations across all fronts, including Lebanon. Pakistani and Qatari mediators involved in the Swiss talks confirmed that Tehran and Washington had agreed to set up communication lines involving Lebanon to ensure compliance with the ceasefire.
Despite the agreement, tensions in southern Lebanon remain palpable. Late last week, Israeli strikes and clashes with Hezbollah raised concerns about the stability of the ceasefire, although no major fighting has occurred since Saturday evening. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israeli forces would stay in southern Lebanon “as long as necessary,” while Hezbollah deputy leader Naim Qassem rejected the idea of any Israeli "security zone" on Lebanese territory. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz emphasized that forces have standing orders to respond to any threats within Lebanon. At the same time, Israel lifted all war-related restrictions along its northern border from Monday morning.
Parallel to these developments, Iran has reclosed the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime passage for global oil and gas supplies, which it had initially shut early in the conflict in response to Israeli actions. This move has heightened concerns over regional economic stability. Tehran appears intent on leveraging control over the strait as a negotiating asset in ongoing diplomatic efforts.
President Aoun underscored Lebanon’s desire to conduct its own negotiations independently, distancing Lebanese discussions from the broader US-Iran agreement. “We negotiate for ourselves, and we do not accept any other party doing so for us,” he affirmed.
Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed reiterated Doha’s commitment to Lebanon’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity, highlighting Qatar’s role as an active mediator promoting dialogue and regional stability.
These diplomatic engagements precede a fifth round of direct talks scheduled to begin Tuesday in Washington between Lebanese and Israeli officials. The outcome of these negotiations will likely influence the durability of the ceasefire and the future security landscape in Lebanon and the wider Middle East region.