In response to a media inquiry from @ThisIsBeirut_ , a U.S. Department of State spokesperson said:
The Trilateral Framework clearly states that the Lebanese Government is the sole legitimate interlocutor for discussions about the future of Lebanon and on behalf of the Lebanese people.
The United States stands with the Lebanese people and wants Lebanon to be a safe and sovereign country. For that to happen, Hizballah must disarm.
As Ambassador Issa has said, we want nothing more than for them [Hizballah] to hand over their weapons.
When Hizballah decides it is ready to do so, it can talk with the Lebanese state, with whom we are already in dialogue and tell them it is ready to turn in its weapons. Then we could try to bring the views close to each other.
But as it stands, Hizballah so far does not want to talk to the Lebanese state, nor talk to us, nor talk to Israel, because it is simply taking orders from Iran.
It's time for Hizballah to do what’s best for Lebanon and the Lebanese people.
طلبتُ اليوم من الأمين العام لوزارة الخارجية والمغتربين استدعاء القائم بالأعمال الإيراني في لبنان، لإبلاغه قرار سحب الموافقة على اعتماد السفير الإيراني المعيّن محمد رضا شيباني وإعلانه شخصاً غير مرغوب فيه، مع إلزامه مغادرة الأراضي اللبنانية في مهلة أقصاها 29 آذار 2026.
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I instructed today the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants to summon the Iranian Chargé d’Affaires in Lebanon to inform him of the decision to withdraw the agrément for the designated Iranian Ambassador, Mohammad Reza Shibani, declare him persona non grata, and request that he leave Lebanese territory no later than 29 March 2026.
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Lebanon’s hope awakens!!! The opportunity is now. This is a historic moment to supersede the strained confessionalism of the past and finally fulfill 🇱🇧’s true promise of the hope of “One country, one people, one army.” As @POTUS has consistently shared with the world, "Lebanon is a great place, with great people. Let's make Lebanon Great again.”