Aoun defends Lebanon’s presence at Khamenei funeral before US visit
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun defended Lebanon’s decision to send a minister to Ali Khamenei’s funeral, as he prepares for a White House meeting with US President Donald Trump later this month.
“Our diplomatic relations with Iran continue and are not severed,” Aoun said in an interview with Lebanese daily An-Nahar.
He also defended the agreement with Israel, saying it was "not ideal," but a reflection of the current balance of power in southern Lebanon.
Aoun's visit to Washington is aimed at advancing the deal's framework, which includes a phased security transition, with the Lebanese army taking exclusive control of specific towns to facilitate incremental Israeli withdrawals.
