Rubio: Why would we negotiate Lebanon with Iran?

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed Tuesday that Lebanon is a sovereign country and that Washington would not negotiate with Iran over it.

“Why would we negotiate Lebanon with Iran? What does Iran have to do with Lebanon? I mean they can claim whatever they want, but Lebanon is a sovereign country,” said Rubio in response to a reporter’s questions.

“To figure out the future of Lebanon, we’ll deal with Lebanon, not with Iran,” he added.

“I think by saying that to you, they’re admitting that they are the ones behind Hezbollah, that has destroyed that country. Everything bad that’s happened to Lebanon has been the direct result of Hezbollah’s presence there,” Rubio suggested.

“We deal with the Lebanese government, we deal with President (Joseph) Aoun, we deal with the Lebanese Armed Forces,” he added.

Tehran has repeatedly called for an end to Israeli attacks and occupation in Lebanon, arguing that that was part of its ceasefire agreement with the United States.