Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun has sharply criticized Iran, accusing it of interfering in Lebanese affairs and using the country as a bargaining chip in regional conflicts.

Axar.az reports, speaking to CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Aoun said Lebanon is being drawn into a wider confrontation involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, and warned that the Lebanese people are bearing the consequences.

“You are not trying to help us … the people of Lebanon are paying the price … for the sake of your own interest,” he said, adding, “our interests … do not coincide with your interests.”

He also directly addressed Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), stating, “It’s not your country, it’s our country.”

Aoun rejected recent Iranian statements regarding a ceasefire arrangement involving Lebanon, accusing Tehran of using Lebanese territory in geopolitical negotiations.

“They are using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in their negotiation with US,” he said. “It’s unacceptable.”

The remarks come as a fragile ceasefire framework between Israel and Lebanon remains in place, while tensions persist over the role of Hezbollah, which was not part of the agreement.