US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that Washington will engage directly with the Lebanese government on the country's future, stressing that discussions involving Lebanon are separate from negotiations related to Israel.
Speaking to reporters after arriving in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, Rubio said Lebanon’s sovereignty requires a distinct diplomatic approach and reaffirmed US support for engagement with Beirut’s elected leadership.
“Lebanon is a sovereign country. It has a government, and when it comes to Lebanon, we're going to negotiate and deal directly with the Lebanese government,” Rubio said.
The secretary of state said he had recently spoken with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and noted that US officials are currently on the ground in Lebanon.
Hezbollah, Iran remain key issues
While distinguishing Lebanon-focused diplomacy and other regional negotiations, Rubio said Iran’s support for Hezbollah would remain part of ongoing discussions with Tehran.
“The future of Lebanon belongs to the Lebanese people through their sovereign elected government, and that's who we're going to be working with,” he said.
Rubio also argued that achieving a lasting end to hostilities across the region would require addressing the activities of Iranian-backed groups, including missile and drone attacks carried out by regional proxies.
Strait of Hormuz and future engagement
Rubio also rejected any suggestion that Iran could impose tolls on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz under a future agreement with Washington.
Calling the strategic waterway an international passage governed by international law, he said no country has the right to levy fees on vessels using it.
He added that future economic opportunities for Iran, including potential foreign investment, would depend on progress in addressing broader security concerns and Tehran’s regional policies.
Rubio is visiting the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain this week following a recent memorandum of understanding reached between the United States and Iran.
