Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has dismissed reports suggesting that Lebanon is in confrontation with Washington over the future of the ceasefire monitoring committee, known as the “mechanism.” Speaking to Annahar, Salam said the U.S. has not indicated any intention to dismantle the committee and stressed that Lebanon remains committed to maintaining strong ties with Washington, a key partner in the process.

When asked about speculation that the U.S. might seek to exclude France from the mechanism talks, Salam categorically rejected the claim.

“No one has informed me of that,” he said.

The mechanism, a critical platform for monitoring the 2024 Lebanon-Israel ceasefire, has recently come under pressure from both Washington and Tel Aviv, which are reportedly exploring a new trilateral negotiation framework. Despite these external moves, Salam reaffirmed Lebanon’s support for the mechanism, underscoring its importance in maintaining stability and coordination between the Lebanese Army, Israel, and the international community.

Salam also sought to downplay the significance of any tensions between the U.S. and France over the mechanism.

“Lebanon’s main concern is avoiding unnecessary friction,” he said, stressing that the situation should not be exaggerated.

“There are more important problems than the matter of Lebanon’s mechanism. Honestly, the small country of Lebanon is not the center of the world.”

During a recent meeting in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron, Salam said the French leader reiterated his country’s commitment to the mechanism, calling it a key diplomatic and security tool for Lebanon. While reports suggested that Washington might push for France’s exclusion, Salam emphasized that the U.S. remains a “strategic partner” and has no plans to remove France from the process.