Kataeb MP Salim Sayegh said Lebanon should continue pursuing direct negotiations with Israel, arguing that the country cannot afford to rely on broader regional agreements that are not endorsed by the parties directly involved in the conflict.

Speaking to MFM Radio, Sayegh said that while the parties to the recently announced U.S.-Iran agreement claim Lebanon is included in the arrangement, both Israel and the Lebanese government have made clear that no one is authorized to speak on their behalf.

“The parties to the U.S.-Iran agreement say Lebanon is part of it, but the people directly concerned on the ground — Israel and the Lebanese government — are both saying that nobody speaks for us,” Sayegh said. “As a result, we have to judge events by what is actually happening and continue pursuing the Washington track, which remains active.”

Sayegh said the security situation in Lebanon remains deeply troubling despite diplomatic developments.

“We are not comfortable with the reality on the ground,” he said. “Israel continues to carry out strikes, Lebanese sovereignty continues to be violated, the people of southern Lebanon are effectively hostages, and the state itself is being held hostage. Israeli attacks target any location deemed suspicious regardless of whether civilians are present. We will not be at ease until there is a realistic process that puts Lebanon on a genuine path toward a solution.”

The Kataeb lawmaker reiterated his support for the course being pursued by President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and the Lebanese government, describing direct negotiations with Israel as the only viable path forward.

“The track we support, alongside the state, the president, the government and its prime minister, is the Washington track and direct negotiations with the Israelis,” he said.

Sayegh argued that calls for an Israeli withdrawal, a ceasefire and reconstruction, while legitimate, would not by themselves resolve the underlying issues preventing a lasting settlement.

“What benefit is there in demanding an Israeli withdrawal, a ceasefire and reconstruction — all legitimate demands — if Israel continues to argue that Lebanon cannot control its territory, regulate weapons, or fully exercise sovereign authority?” he said.

He also criticized what he described as Iran’s continued influence over Lebanese affairs through its contacts with Hezbollah and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

“Iran communicates its view of developments in Lebanon after consultations with Hezbollah and Speaker Berri,” he said. “Discussions with the president of the republic should not be reduced to a mere protocol exercise.”

Sayegh called on Tehran to dismantle its influence networks in Lebanon if it genuinely seeks stability.

“If Iran’s intentions are truly positive, then it should dismantle the Revolutionary Guard’s network and rein in its people in Lebanon,” he said. “We are not asking Iran for anything. Iran brought destruction to Lebanon, not prosperity, and we should not distort the facts or turn reality upside down.”

He argued that Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps bear significant responsibility for the devastation Lebanon has suffered in recent years.

“For the sake of Iran’s interests, the Revolutionary Guard helped destroy Lebanon,” Sayegh said. “Iran bears responsibility for what happened here, and we will seek compensation for the destruction caused by Iran and its allies, just as Israel bears responsibility for another part of the damage. We must also not forget the economic collapse that has taken place.”

Turning to the issue of Hezbollah’s weapons, Sayegh said the process of disarmament had become irreversible and was part of a broader regional shift supported by Washington.

“There is no turning back from the path of disarmament,” he said. “The United States is promoting a broader political vision for the Middle East that focuses on cutting off armed proxy groups. We see this in Iraq, where Tom Barrack has called for armed factions to be excluded from government, and the same principle applies to Lebanon.”

Sayegh pointed to remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Hezbollah as evidence that regional decisions have already been made.

“When Trump says that Sharaa will deal with Hezbollah, it means the decision has already been taken and the remaining issues are merely details,” he said.

He added that regional powers are increasingly focused on stability and economic development rather than conflict.

“In today’s Middle East, major strategic projects cannot be disrupted and chaos is no longer acceptable,” Sayegh said. “Iran has now become part of the broader regional framework that is taking shape in the Middle East; a framework that the United States and China agreed upon during their most recent summit.”