The election of Lebanon's US and Arab-backed president Joseph Aoun is not a defeat for Iran-backed Hezbollah, Tehran's ambassador to Beirut said on Friday, despite the former army chief suggesting the militia should be disarmed.
"It is said that since Aoun was not Hezbollah's candidate, his election is a defeat for the Resistance," Iran's ambassador to Beirut Mojtaba Amani said on Friday.
"Much of this is mere delusion. The Resistance has demonstrated that if they do not agree, a president will not be elected," he added. "Hezbollah concluded it would reach an agreement with the new president."
Earlier in the day, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi congratulated Aoun, saying Tehran will cooperate with any government that aligns with the aspirations of the Lebanese people.
The diplomatic welcome comes despite US and Arab-backed Aoun pledging in his post-election speech on Thursday to ensure only the state bears arms in Lebanon - an apparent challenge to Tehran's ally Hezbollah.
“Iran supports a Lebanon that is a homeland for all Lebanese, free from occupation and foreign threats,” Araghchi said in a post on X.
“As always, we will cooperate with any government that represents the aspirations of the Lebanese people, ensures their welfare, and safeguards Lebanon’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he added.
Iran’s influence in Lebanon was dealt another blow with the election of General Aoun as the country's new president, months after Tehran's armed ally Hezbollah was mauled by Israel in a 14-month war.
Aoun, who was backed by factions seeking to reduce Hezbollah's dominance, signals a shift away from Lebanon’s political dominance by Iran via the militia.
His election marks the end of a prolonged political vacuum and a decisive moment in Lebanon's complex political landscape, raising questions about the country's future alignment in a shattered Middle East.
