US To Deal Directly With Lebanon: Rubio

ISTANBUL, June 24 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that Washington would negotiate and deal directly with Beirut, adding that Lebanon-Israel negotiations are separate from the agreement, Anadolu Ajansi reported.

"Well, that process is separate. It's separate because Lebanon is a sovereign country. It has a government, and when it comes to Lebanon … we're going to negotiate and deal directly with the Lebanese government," Rubio told reporters after landing in Abu Dhabi.

Rubio is visiting the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain from June 23 to 25 to discuss regional security following a memorandum of understanding reached between the US and Iran.

"I spoke to President (Joseph) Aoun, along with the vice president, a few moments ago, and spoke to him on Friday. Their people are there now on the ground directly," said Rubio.

He said the "Iranian issue with regards to Lebanon" is "the support and sponsorship of Hezbollah", which will be discussed "as part of our conversations with the Iranians".

"But as far as the future of Lebanon is concerned, the future of Lebanon belongs to the Lebanese people through their sovereign elected government, and that's who we're going to be working with," he added.

Rubio also said Iran would not be able to charge tolls in the Strait of Hormuz as part of any final agreement with the US, noting that such an arrangement would be contrary to international law.

"It's an international waterway. No country is allowed to charge tolls or fees on an international waterway. That's existing international law. That's the way it is for international waterways all over the world, and that's the way we expect it will be here," he said.

He also said that "a complete end to hostilities across the entire region" would not be possible while "Iranian proxies are launching missiles and drones", adding that the issue would be included in negotiations.

Rubio said there may be opportunities, including investment in Iran, depending on whether Tehran "makes a decision that they want to be a country instead of a revolutionary movement that exports terror".

“It won't be our investment, it won't be our government money, but, but I think that that is something that's going to have to depend on progress made on a host of other security issues that have to be confronted in the days to come,” he said.

-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU