Direct Talks With Israel Only Way to Regain Lebanese Territory, Says Foreign Minister

Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji has said that direct talks with Israel represent the only realistic way for Lebanon to regain territory it considers occupied, while also calling on Iran to stop interfering in Lebanese domestic affairs.

Rajji described the Lebanese army as the country's "only hope," a statement that reflects ongoing debate within Lebanon over the roles of state security institutions versus non-state armed actors in matters of national defense and sovereignty.

Calls for Reduced Foreign Interference

The foreign minister's remarks touch on two of the most sensitive issues in Lebanese politics: the unresolved territorial and security disputes with Israel along the southern border, and the influence of foreign actors, including Iran, on Lebanon's internal political dynamics. Calls for direct negotiations with Israel remain politically contentious in Lebanon, given the countries' history of conflict and the absence of formal diplomatic relations between them.

Rajji's comments did not specify a proposed format, timeline or mediator for any direct talks with Israel, nor did they detail what specific actions he believes Iran should curtail.

The statement comes amid continued regional tension involving Israel, Iran and various armed and political actors across the Middle East, with Lebanon's own security situation remaining closely tied to these broader dynamics.