President Joseph Aoun said Tuesday that restoring State authority and enforcing the rule of law are non-negotiable priorities, pledging to move forward with efforts to place all weapons under the exclusive control of the Lebanese State and to rebuild confidence with international partners.

Meeting with a delegation from the Sovereign Front political group, Aoun said renewed foreign support for Lebanon was a direct result of steps taken to reestablish effective State institutions after years of crisis.

“The confidence we are regaining from the international community, and the support that is beginning to return, are the natural result of our work to rebuild the State on solid foundations,” Aoun said. “That means enforcing the rule of law and ensuring that weapons are held solely by the State. These commitments are irreversible.”

Aoun, who assumed office in January 2025 after a prolonged presidential vacancy, said he remains fully committed to the promises he made in his inaugural address.

“There is no question of backing away from the pledges I made in my inaugural speech,” he said. “That address was widely supported at home and abroad, and it places a serious responsibility on me to honor it.”

The president also reaffirmed his determination to hold parliamentary elections on schedule in May, dismissing calls from some political figures to postpone the vote.

“Any ideas being floated about delaying the elections, for whatever reason or for any period of time, are of no concern to me,” Aoun said. “This is a matter that falls entirely within the authority of parliament, which alone has the power to decide on such proposals.”

He stressed that he would remain strictly neutral throughout the electoral process.

“I will stand at an equal distance from all candidates and will not interfere in electoral alliances,” Aoun said. “My duty is to guarantee that the elections are conducted fairly, securely, and with full integrity.”

Turning to regional tensions, Aoun warned against any action that could drag Lebanon into another conflict.

“I am working with all concerned parties to make sure the country is not pulled into a new war,” he said. “The Lebanese people have suffered enough and can no longer bear the burden of additional conflicts.”

He added that changing international dynamics require a realistic and measured approach.

“Today’s circumstances demand clearheaded thinking and practical judgment to protect Lebanon and its people,” Aoun said. “I hope that the efforts underway to keep Lebanon out of harm’s way will be met with understanding and constructive cooperation.”