Nawaf Salam Demands State Sovereignty at UN General Assembly

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam conducted a series of high-level diplomatic meetings during the UN General Assembly in New York to assert state sovereignty and end the conflict with Israel. Salam met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and UAE Minister Reem Al Hashimon to discuss regional connectivity and the cessation of Israeli attacks.

In a key meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Salam requested that Tehran nominate a new ambassador to replace Mohammad Reza Shibani, who was declared persona non grata in March. He told Pezeshkian that Lebanon must not be an "arena for regional wars" or a venue for exchanging messages between other powers, emphasizing that the Lebanese state must hold exclusive authority over weapons and decisions of war and peace. This stance follows Hezbollah's March 2 attack on Israel, which triggered Israeli airstrikes and a ground invasion that killed over 4,300 people.

Salam also met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who reaffirmed support for Lebanon's territorial integrity. Addressing the General Assembly, Salam confirmed that the Lebanese state is negotiating with Israel under United States auspices to restore sovereignty. He outlined requirements for ending the conflict, including a consolidated ceasefire, the release of prisoners, and the reconstruction of villages. Salam further expressed concern over a potential security vacuum following the mandated end of UNIFIL operations by the end of the year, urging a transition that upholds Security Council resolution 1701.