Trump says Lebanon has chance for future 'free from Hezbollah grip'
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday at a meeting of leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council hosted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh that there is in Lebanon a new chance for peace and for a future "free from the grip of Hezbollah".
"In Lebanon there is a new chance for a future free from the grip of Hezbollah terrorists if the new president and PM can rebuild an effective Lebanese state," Trump said.
"This is a once in a generation opportunity to forge a Lebanon that is prosperous and at peace with its neighbors," he added.
Trump also told Gulf leaders that he urgently wants "to make a deal" with Iran to wind down its nuclear program but that Tehran must end its support of proxy groups throughout the region -- Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen-- as part of any potential agreement.
(Iran) "must stop sponsoring terror, halt its bloody proxy wars, and permanently and verifiably cease pursuit of nuclear weapons," Trump said.
The U.S. and Iran have engaged in four rounds of talks since early last month focused on Iran's nuclear program. Trump has repeatedly said that he believes brokering a deal is possible, but that the window is closing.
Trump remarks came after he met with Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh on the sidelines of the gathering, a day after announcing he was lifting sanctions on the war-battered country.
Hezbollah is severely weakened after its war last year with Israel in which much of its top leadership was killed, and after losing a key ally with the fall of former Syrian President Bashar Assad, a conduit for Iran to send arms.
Source: Naharnet
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