Graham ends meeting with Lebanese Army Commander over stance on Hezbollah

Graham ends meeting with Lebanese Army Commander over stance on Hezbollah

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham announced the termination of a "very short" meeting with Lebanese Army Commander General Rudolph Haikal, following a sharp disagreement over the classification of Hezbollah.

Graham stated that he asked Haikal directly whether he considers Hezbollah a "terrorist organization." According to Graham, the Lebanese Army Commander replied, "No, not in the context of the Lebanese situation," which prompted Graham to end the meeting immediately.

The U.S. Senator asserted that Hezbollah is "clearly a terrorist organization," emphasizing that it has "American blood on its hands," referring to the targeting of U.S. Marines in Lebanon. He added that the group has been on U.S. terror lists since 1997 by both Republican and Democratic administrations "for good reason."

Graham argued that the Lebanese Army's continued stance raises questions about its status as a "reliable partner" to the United States. He criticized what he described as "double-talk in the Middle East," stating that "too much is at stake and there is no room for pleasantries."

Washington urges citizens to leave Iran as Iranian delegation arrives in Muscat

In a notable move, the U.S. State Department has called on its citizens to leave Iran "by any means possible," including departing by land via Armenia or Turkey. This directive comes while the Iranian negotiating delegation is in the Omani capital, Muscat, for indirect talks.

This American step recalls events from last June, when the United States not only provided political cover for Israel during the course of Iranian-American negotiations but also actively participated in military action. This behavior reflected Washington’s use of the diplomatic track as a cover for escalation rather than a path to a solution.

Observers believe this timing raises serious questions regarding U.S. credibility in the negotiation process. It reinforces suspicions that Washington is adopting a dual policy: keeping negotiation channels open for appearance's sake, while simultaneously pursuing security and military pressure and escalation.

In this context, statements made by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution in Iran last year have been circulating widely. He emphasized that "negotiating with such a government is irrational, lacks wisdom, is not honorable, and must be avoided," referring to what Tehran considers a U.S. record based on broken commitments and double standards.

According to informed sources, these developments reflect Washington's continued policy of sending contradictory messages at a time when the region is experiencing escalating tension and extreme sensitivity in both political and security tracks.