Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri told U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein that Lebanon could elect a president during the first week after a ceasefire deal is reached, Sky News Arabia quoted knowledgeable sources as saying. 

During their meeting early on Monday in Beirut, Berri assured Hochstein that the newly elected president would play a pivotal role in overseeing the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. The elected leader would also be tasked with securing a permanent ceasefire.

Hochstein’s visit, however, reportedly highlighted a shift in the U.S. stance regarding any possible amendments to Resolution 1701. Sources indicated that any amendment to Resolution 1701 would require approval from Russia, China, and the United States. Given the complex geopolitical dynamics, there appears to be no immediate plan to pursue such amendments, reflecting the broader international reluctance to engage in this issue.

The sources emphasized that Hochstein's visit did not offer any concrete solutions to the ongoing war raging between Israel and Hezbollah. Instead, it was framed as part of ongoing U.S. diplomatic efforts, particularly in the lead-up to the U.S. elections.