Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said direct negotiations with Israel under U.S. sponsorship are the only way to recover Lebanese territories.

This shift toward diplomatic engagement comes as Lebanon faces the threat of further conflict. Aoun's position emphasizes a preference for a structured political settlement over military confrontation to preserve the nation's stability.

During a series of press conferences in Beirut, Aoun said that there is no other choice but negotiation [1]. These remarks were made between June 1 [2] and June 8, 2026 [3]. He said that any eventual settlement must not come at the expense of Lebanon and must ensure the unity of the country [1].

Aoun said that military conflict is counterproductive. "War leads to nothing but ruin and destruction," he said [4]. He said that while negotiations may take time and do not guarantee immediate results, they represent the safest path to restoring land and ensuring national sovereignty [2].

Reports on the specific nature of the desired agreement vary. Some accounts indicate that Aoun is seeking a non-aggression pact with Israel rather than a comprehensive peace treaty [3]. This distinction suggests a pragmatic approach aimed at stabilizing borders without requiring a full diplomatic normalization.

Beyond the immediate relationship with Israel, Aoun addressed the influence of external powers in the region. "We call on Iran not to interfere in the affairs of Lebanon," he said [5]. This statement underscores the president's effort to assert Lebanese independence from foreign directives during the negotiation process.

Throughout early June, Aoun said that the cost of war is too high for the Lebanese people to bear. He said that the primary objective remains the recovery of territory through a framework that protects the state's integrity [1].

“"There is no choice before us but negotiation."”

President Aoun's call for US-sponsored negotiations signals a strategic pivot toward diplomacy to avoid a full-scale war. By specifying a non-aggression pact over a comprehensive peace treaty, the Lebanese presidency is attempting to balance the necessity of border security with the internal political sensitivities of recognizing Israel. Furthermore, the explicit request for Iranian non-interference suggests an attempt to decouple Lebanon's national security decisions from the broader geopolitical interests of Tehran.