US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that the Lebanon file is separate from the memorandum of understanding signed between the United States and Iran, stressing that Lebanon’s future is decided by the Lebanese themselves and not by any external party.
Rubio’s statements came in conjunction with his arrival in Abu Dhabi at the beginning of a Gulf tour that includes the Emirates, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
He said that Washington is dealing directly with the Lebanese government, stressing that the issue of “Iranian agents” in the region will be one of the files that will be raised at the appropriate time during the ongoing discussions with Tehran.
He added that ending hostilities in the Middle East would not be possible if Iranian-backed groups continued to fire missiles, in reference to ongoing tensions on more than one regional front.
These statements come at a time when the Lebanese arena is witnessing increasing international pressure to establish a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, after the recent confrontations threatened to undermine the negotiating path between Washington and Tehran.
Despite the US administration’s assertion that the Lebanese file is not part of the nuclear or political understanding with Iran, Washington considers that Lebanon’s stability and the security of its borders remain issues related to broader regional security.
Rubio indicated that the file of groups allied with Iran would be discussed later, without providing additional details about the nature or timing of these discussions.
In another context, the US Secretary of State stressed that international law does not allow any country to impose fees or taxes on international waterways, in a position that comes against the backdrop of the ongoing controversy regarding the future of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
He stressed that freedom of navigation in international sea lanes is a well-established principle in international law, and that the United States is following developments related to the movement of ships and energy in the region.
According to Agence France-Presse, Rubio’s visit aims to discuss regional security files and the ongoing negotiations with Iran, and he will meet with Emirati officials before heading to Kuwait and then Bahrain to participate in a meeting that includes the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, amid international follow-up on the path of new understandings in the region.
