President Joseph Aoun on Sunday reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to enforcing strict financial and security measures aimed at combating money laundering, terrorism financing, and other illicit activities.

His comments came during a meeting at Baabda Palace with a visiting U.S. Treasury delegation led by Dr. Sebastian Gorka, Deputy Assistant to the U.S. President for Counterterrorism Affairs.

Aoun told the delegation that Lebanon “rigorously enforces” regulations designed to prevent money laundering and the financing of terrorism, stressing that all financial crimes are severely punished. He noted that Parliament had recently passed amendments to the Banking Secrecy Law and approved a plan to restructure the banking sector; key steps, he said, toward restoring transparency and rebuilding confidence in Lebanon’s financial system.

The president also cited recent Central Bank circulars regulating banking activity and said the government is close to finalizing a draft law addressing the country’s “financial gap,” which aims to help stabilize Lebanon’s fragile economy.

“In tandem with the financial measures being implemented, the army and security services are pursuing terrorist cells and bringing their members before the judiciary,” Aoun said, emphasizing that the security forces continue to thwart “any attempts to undermine security and stability across the country.”

Talks also touched on Lebanon’s ongoing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with both sides reviewing efforts to reach an agreement that could help support economic recovery. Aoun said the government remains focused on revitalizing the banking sector to ensure a “normal flow of funds” consistent with international financial standards.

Addressing the situation in southern Lebanon, Aoun called on the international community to pressure Israel to halt its “continued aggressions” and to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and the agreement reached last year. Full implementation, he said, would allow for the complete deployment of the Lebanese Army along the southern border and reinforce the state’s exclusive authority over weapons, as outlined in the army’s national defense plan.

Reaffirming his preference for diplomacy, Aoun said that “negotiation remains the best path forward,” arguing that military confrontation has yielded no results. Still, he cautioned that talks require “a conducive environment,” including a cessation of hostilities and the restoration of calm in the south. He added that this diplomatic approach enjoys the backing of the United States and several other countries.

For its part, the U.S. delegation expressed Washington’s willingness to assist Lebanon in strengthening security and stability in the south, supporting the Lebanese Army in extending state authority across all territories, eliminating non-state armed presence, and empowering legitimate security institutions to fully perform their duties.