Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam accused Iran of obstructing a U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Israel during a diplomatic press conference in Beirut [1, 2].
The rebuke marks a significant shift in public rhetoric from Beirut toward Tehran. By accusing a key regional power of exploiting Lebanese territory for geopolitical leverage, Salam is signaling a desire to decouple Lebanon's national security from Iranian strategic interests.
Salam said that Iran has been blocking the ceasefire mediated by the U.S. and is using southern Lebanon as a strategic bargaining chip [1, 2]. He said that Lebanon is not a pawn for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the IRGC, in its broader negotiations with Washington [1].
These comments followed a series of high-level diplomatic meetings. The Prime Minister said that the Lebanese government is seeking to end the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah by restoring national sovereignty [1, 2].
In a separate statement made on Sunday, Salam said he is working to secure the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanese territory [2]. The Prime Minister's efforts are focused on ensuring that foreign interests do not dictate the security arrangements of the south [1, 2].
Salam said the current situation is unsustainable and that the Lebanese people should not suffer due to the strategic calculations of external actors [1]. The administration continues to engage with international mediators to find a path toward a permanent cessation of hostilities [1, 2].
“Lebanon is not a pawn for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps”
This public confrontation suggests a growing rift between the Lebanese state and its Iranian-backed allies. By explicitly naming the IRGC and accusing Tehran of using the country as a 'bargaining chip,' Salam is attempting to pivot Lebanon toward a diplomatic solution that prioritizes state sovereignty over regional proxy dynamics.
