Lebanese President Aoun Blames Iran for Interference in Lebanon, Sparks Mixed Reactions

What happened

L’Orient Today reports that in a recent interview with CNN, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun accused Iran of using Lebanon as a "bargaining chip" in its confrontation with Washington and urged Tehran to stop interfering in Lebanon’s domestic affairs, stating "This is not your country, it's ours." Aoun also criticized Hezbollah's secretary-general Naim Qassem, arguing he "does not represent the Lebanese people."

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. The interview triggered immediate responses from Lebanese political figures. Anti-Hezbollah MP Fouad Makhzoumi publicly supported Aoun, emphasizing that Lebanon’s state institutions, including the army and elected president, hold the sole authority over decisions of peace and war, and rejecting the legitimacy of armed groups tied to external parties dictating such matters.

Kataeb party leader Samy Gemayel welcomed Aoun’s remarks as restoring state dignity and called for support to continue this push towards strengthening Lebanese legitimacy. In a parallel reaction, U.S. former envoy Amos Hochstein praised Aoun's stance, underscoring that only the Lebanese people and army should decide and defend Lebanon’s fate, without interference from Iran or any armed group.

Known from the source

• President Joseph Aoun gave a CNN interview on June 5, 2026, accusing Iran of interfering in Lebanon and using it as a bargaining chip.
• Aoun criticized Hezbollah’s Naim Qassem for not representing the Lebanese people.
• Hezbollah’s unofficial spokesperson Ahmad Qabalan responded critically to Aoun’s statements.
• Anti-Hezbollah MP Fouad Makhzoumi and Kataeb leader Samy Gemayel publicly supported Aoun’s remarks.
• Former U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein welcomed the Lebanese president’s calls for sovereignty and Lebanese-led defense.

What remains unclear

On the other hand, Hezbollah has yet to officially respond, but Jaafarite Mufti Ahmad Qabalan, seen as its unofficial spokesperson, challenged the president’s position. Qabalan argued that any legitimate representation of Lebanese people must accept resistance to Israeli presence in the south, criticizing Aoun for opposing Hezbollah’s role without a simultaneous Israeli withdrawal, and implying that such a stance does not represent Lebanon.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Confirm exact date and full content of Aoun's CNN interview. Verify full official Hezbollah response, beyond the unofficial spokesperson statement. Confirm the status and terms of the ceasefire agreement announced in Washington on June 3, 2026.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: L Orient Today. Open the source.