Iran Criticizes Lebanese President's Claims on Influence Amid Ongoing Conflict

• •Iran's FM criticized Lebanese President Aoun for misidentifying threats to Lebanon.
• •Aoun claimed Iran is using Lebanon as leverage in US negotiations, which Araghchi denied.
• •The conflict has resulted in over 3,500 casualties in Lebanon since March 2.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has rebuked Lebanese President Joseph Aoun for accusing Iran of using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in US negotiations. Aoun's comments were made during a CNN interview, where he emphasized that Lebanon is not under Iranian control. Araghchi urged Aoun to focus on Lebanon's real threats instead of misidentifying Iran as the source of the country's challenges. He stated that if Lebanon were truly a bargaining chip, a deal would have been reached long ago. The backdrop of this exchange is a US-brokered ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, although Israeli attacks on Lebanese territories continue. The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant civilian casualties, with over 3,500 lives lost since March 2. The situation remains tense, with Hezbollah maintaining its resistance against Israeli forces.