President Joseph Aoun has said that he wants to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump because he wants the Lebanese issue to “remain on the American agenda.”

“We want to solidify its position there,” Aoun said in an interview with Asharq al-Awsat newspaper.

Italy and Israel announced this week that a new round of talks between Lebanon and Israel will take place in Rome in mid-July.

The two sides had previously met for five rounds of U.S.-sponsored talks in Washington aimed at ending the war between Israel and Hezbollah and paving the way for peace.

Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri on Thursday met with a visiting Iranian delegation, which included the Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular and Parliamentary Affairs and Iranians Abroad, Vahid Jalalzadeh, accompanied by Assistant Foreign Minister and Director General for West Asia and North Africa Affairs, Mehdi Shoushtari.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said anew that Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has promised to help on the issue of Hezbollah in Lebanon.

A U.S. military delegation will arrive in Beirut in the coming days to coordinate the ground implementation of a framework agreement that calls for Hezbollah's disarmament and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territory.

U.S. Ambassador Michel Issa said Friday that preparations were underway to implement the Israeli withdrawal from the pilot zones, as he met with President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Speaker Nabih Berri, ahead of a new round of talks between Lebanon and Israel this month in Rome.

Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz said, in a statement on Thursday, that the Israeli military's operations in Lebanon were a response to attacks by Hezbollah.

"The terrorist organization Hezbollah has attacked Israel twice on its own initiative," Katz said.

Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem said Wednesday that "there is no solution other than an Israeli withdrawal in return for the Lebanese Army's deployment south of the Litani."

The United States launched new strikes against Iran on Wednesday in a bid to curb Tehran's ability to target shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. military said.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he believes that Israel will eventually withdraw from south Lebanon.

Kataeb leader Sami Gemayel lashed out at Hezbollah Wednesday, accusing the group of dragging Lebanon into occupation.

"The very least you should do is shut up," he said.