Lebanese president criticizes Iran, Hezbollah chief over war, ceasefire stance

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Friday slammed Iran for using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the United States and criticized Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem, saying the Lebanese people were tired of war and deserved to live in peace.



Aoun made the remarks in an interview with CNN chief international anchor Christiane Amanpour, which was released by the Lebanese Presidency on Friday.



On Thursday, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps said in a statement that Iran's primary condition for accepting the April 8 truce with the United States and Israel was a comprehensive ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon.



"This is not your country; it is our country," said Aoun in the interview, noting it was unacceptable for regional powers to use Lebanon to advance their own interests while Lebanese civilians continued to bear the consequences of conflict through deaths, displacement, and destruction.