U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa said Thursday that there was broad agreement among Lebanese over the need for Hezbollah to surrender its weapons to the state, while acknowledging differences over how the process should be carried out.

Issa made the remarks after meeting Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Sami Abi al-Mouna, as Washington continues efforts to advance talks between Lebanon and Israel and push for the Lebanese State to assume exclusive control over weapons.

“Lebanese people agree on the need for Hezbollah to hand over its weapons. They may have different views on how that should happen, but the end result has to be the same: its weapons must be placed under state control,” Issa said.

He said communication between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Hezbollah remained ongoing, while adding that developments in the U.S.-Iran relationship were indirectly linked to the Lebanese situation.

Issa said Hezbollah had so far refused to engage with the Lebanese state, the United States or Israel and instead remained answerable to Iran.

“Hezbollah does not want to talk to the Lebanese government, to the United States or to Israel. It takes its direction from Iran,” Issa said. “We want it to surrender its weapons. That is all we are asking of it.”

Issa stressed that the negotiations would continue regardless of whether Hezbollah participated directly.

“The talks with Israel are going forward with or without Hezbollah,” he said. “Our goal is to bring the Lebanese state closer to Israel.”

At the same time, Issa said Washington had repeatedly told Israel that its military actions in Lebanon were unacceptable, while maintaining that Hezbollah's disarmament remained essential to securing an Israeli withdrawal.

“We keep telling Israel that its attacks on Lebanon are not acceptable,” he said. “But we are also continuing to press Hezbollah to give up its weapons. We want to be able to tell Israel: ‘They are ready to surrender their weapons.’”

“If Hezbollah refuses to disarm, then on what basis are we supposed to force Israel to leave?” he added.