BEIRUT – Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Tuesday reiterated Lebanon's rejection of the continued Israeli occupation of its territory, stressing that restoring full national sovereignty remains a top priority as a new round of Lebanese-US-Israeli negotiations gets underway.

"We will accept nothing less than the end of the Israeli occupation and the elimination of all forms of external tutelage, because our only choice is national sovereignty," Aoun said during a meeting with Lebanese Army Commander Rodolphe Haykal and members of the advisory team accompanying the Lebanese delegation participating in talks in Washington.

According to a statement released by Lebanon's presidency, the meeting reviewed the outcomes of the fifth round of negotiations held by the Lebanese diplomatic and military delegation.

Aoun said recent developments had validated Lebanon's decision to pursue negotiations, expressing hope that the new round of talks would help achieve the country's objectives and restore its rights.

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"Our choice to engage in negotiations has proven correct because it is the only accepted way worldwide to achieve national goals and reclaim rights," he said.

Aoun also stressed that the Lebanese state remains the sole guarantor of security, freedoms, and rights for all citizens.

Also on Tuesday, Aoun received a phone call from US Vice-President JD Vance and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss the latest developments in Lebanon and the post-Switzerland talks phase.

According to a statement from the Lebanese presidency, Vance and Rubio reaffirmed US support for the Lebanese president and government's efforts to extend the authority of the legitimate state across all Lebanese territory and strengthen national sovereignty through the Lebanese Army and security forces.

They also stressed Washington's commitment to implementing understandings reached during the Switzerland meetings, including the establishment of a joint mechanism involving the United States, Lebanon, and Iran to help consolidate the ceasefire in Lebanon and monitor the implementation of related measures.

Arrangements concerning the mechanism's structure and operational framework are currently under study, they said.

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US and Iranian negotiators, under Qatari and Pakistani mediation, began their talks on Sunday at the Buergenstock mountain resort in central Switzerland, marking the first direct talks between the two sides since the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) last week.

According to the MoU, the United States and Iran declare an immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, and commit to negotiating and achieving the final peace agreement in maximum 60 days.

Full Israeli withdrawal needed

Israel has no other choice but to fully withdraw from all Lebanese territories, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem said on Tuesday, stressing that the ceasefire agreement must be fully implemented.

"There is no option before Israel except a full withdrawal from all Lebanese land without retaining a single inch under any pretext," Qassem said during a gathering in Beirut's southern suburbs.

According to al-Manar local TV channel, Qassem said Hezbollah and Lebanon had entered "a new phase" marked by what he described as the failure of Israel's efforts to eliminate the group.

"The major project aimed at ending Hezbollah militarily, politically, culturally, socially, and humanly has been broken," he said, arguing that Israel had failed to achieve its objectives despite years of military pressure.

Qassem maintained that resistance remained the only guarantee for Lebanon's liberation, independence, and sovereignty, while criticizing the United States and other international actors for what he described as failing to uphold commitments under a ceasefire agreement in 2024.

He also praised Iran's support for Hezbollah and Lebanon during the conflict, saying cooperation between the two sides had contributed to the outcome of the confrontation.

Addressing post-ceasefire arrangements, Qassem called for the implementation of what he described as five key requirements: a complete halt to Israeli attacks by air, land, and sea; a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory and the deployment of the Lebanese army in the south; the release of detainees; the return of residents to border areas; and reconstruction efforts.

He said Hezbollah would continue cooperating with the Lebanese army in southern Lebanon while rejecting any Israeli role in Lebanon's internal affairs or future security arrangements.

A ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel took effect on June 20. The truce largely held until Tuesday, when two people were killed by Israeli fire in southern Lebanon, prompting accusations of ceasefire violations.