According to the Lebanese National News Agency, President Joseph K. Aoun met on Sunday with an Iranian delegation, including Shura Council Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Mojtaba Amani. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the funeral of assassinated Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah.
During the meeting, Aoun expressed Lebanon’s exhaustion from being a battleground for external conflicts, stating, “Lebanon is tired of others’ wars on its land.” He emphasized the importance of non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign nations and underscored the necessity of Lebanese unity.
من الواضح جدّاً قديش فخامة الرئيس جوزيف عون و معالي وزير الخارجية جو رجّي مبسوطين بالوفد الإيراني الإرهابي pic.twitter.com/No4phCg5o3
— Elio Maalouf (@ElioMaalouf) February 23, 2025
“The best way to confront any loss or aggression is through the unity of the Lebanese people,” Aoun said. He referenced Iran’s constitution, particularly Article Nine, which asserts that a nation’s freedom, independence, territorial integrity, and security are inviolable.
He also stressed that no individual, group, or official has the right to compromise a country’s sovereignty—politically, culturally, economically, or militarily—under the pretext of exercising freedom.
Aoun also noted the outcomes of the recent Riyadh summit, particularly its reaffirmation of the two-state solution for the plight of the ‘Palestinians’ and recognition of the Palestinian Authority as the legitimate representative of the ‘Palestinian’ people. He noted that Lebanon had paid a heavy price in its support of the ‘Palestinian’ cause and expressed hope for a just resolution.
Reaffirming Lebanon’s commitment to strong bilateral relations, Aoun stressed the importance of fostering positive ties with Tehran for the mutual benefit of both nations and their peoples.
Joseph Khalil Aoun, 61, has been serving as the 14th president of Lebanon since January 9, 2025. Before becoming president, he was the commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces. He is the fifth military commander to assume the presidency.
LEBANON REPRESSES ITS ‘PALESTINIANS’
It must be noted that most “Palestinians” residing in Lebanon remain stateless, as they are not granted Lebanese citizenship. This applies even to those born in Lebanon regardless of how many generations their families have lived in the country.
Without Lebanese citizenship, “Palestinians” in Lebanon lack Lebanese identity cards, which grant access to health care, education, and other government services. Instead, “Palestinians,” whether living inside or outside the 12 official refugee camps, rely on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for these essential services. According to Human Rights Watch, “Palestinians” residing in Lebanon endure “appalling social and economic conditions.”
A 2001 amendment to Lebanon’s property laws further restricted their rights, requiring foreign property owners to hold the citizenship of an internationally recognized country. As a result, “Palestinians” are legally barred from owning land or property. Additionally, they face restrictions in employment, being excluded from at least 39 professions, including law, medicine, and engineering.
While Lebanon issues hundreds of thousands of work permits annually to foreign workers from Africa, Asia, and Arab countries, “Palestinians” rarely receive them. Consequently, the vast majority of “Palestinian” residents in Lebanon—over 90% according to a 2017 government census—are informally employed, often forced into low-paying and unstable work in the black market.
