President Joseph Aoun firmly stated that the decision to place all weapons under the exclusive authority of the Lebanese state has been made, with implementation set to occur through dialogue, not force. He emphasized that this crucial step will be pursued through direct talks with Hezbollah, expressing confidence that the current regional and international climate presents an opportunity for progress on this front.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Aoun stressed the importance of ensuring that all weapons in Lebanon are exclusively under state control, marking a significant step toward the country's pursuit of greater stability and sovereignty.

“The decision has been made, and its implementation will take place through dialogue, without any resort to force,” the president said.

Aoun revealed that communication with Hezbollah is ongoing, with both sides working toward an agreement on this critical issue.

“Hezbollah is aware of what serves Lebanon’s best interests,” he noted.

The president also underscored that this initiative is part of a broader strategy to safeguard Lebanon’s security, calling for a national security strategy that would lay the groundwork for a comprehensive defense plan. This strategy would ultimately define the state’s exclusive control over all weapons, a goal Aoun believes is essential for the country’s future.

Aoun further emphasized that the Lebanese army has successfully dismantled tunnels and weapons depots both north and south of the Litani River, reiterating that the military is ready to assume full responsibility for securing Lebanon’s southern border. However, he also pointed out that the continued presence of Israeli forces at five border points has hindered the army’s full deployment along the entire frontier.

The president ruled out any immediate negotiations on normalizing ties with Israel, reaffirming that Lebanon remains committed to the Arab Peace Initiative as the foundation for any future agreement.

The Arab Peace Initiative, first proposed by Saudi Arabia and adopted by the Arab League in 2002, offers Israel full normalization of ties with Arab states in exchange for a complete withdrawal from territories occupied since 1967, the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and a just resolution to the Palestinian refugee crisis. Although reaffirmed in subsequent Arab summits, the initiative has not been accepted by Israel.

“No one has discussed with us the issue of normalization with Israel,” Aoun stated.