Hezbollah MPs urge Lebanese authorities to reconsider stance, join Islamabad track

Two Hezbollah MPs called on Lebanon on Monday to join a U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding reached in June, claiming that the Islamabad talks would end the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon.

Violence in Lebanon had decreased since the signing of a U.S.-brokered framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel in June and the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding earlier that month.

While Hezbollah and key political figures in Beirut rejected direct negotiations with Israel and voiced strong opposition to the framework agreement, President Joseph Aoun maintained that diplomatic engagement remains the sole solution. However, Aoun conceded that the diplomatic track has so far failed to produce tangible results — namely, terminating aggression, securing an Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories, and bringing home prisoners.

MP Hassan Fadlallah advised the Lebanese authorities to reconsider their position. "Iran insists that Lebanon be the first item in any new agreement," he said.

Another Hezbollah lawmaker, Hussein Hajj Hassan, reaffirmed that "any upcoming agreement will necessarily include Lebanon."