Lebanon

Khamenei Says Iran 'Won't Yield' to Pressure to Abandon Uranium Enrichment

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Tuesday said the Islamic republic would not give in to pressure to abandon its enrichment of uranium. Khamenei, in a televised address, also called any talks with the United States a "dead end" that would be of no benefit to his country. His statement came as European powers seeking ...

Aoun to Guterres: Disarmament Plan Ready

President Joseph Aoun assured UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday that Lebanon’s disarmament plan is “ready for implementation but has been obstructed by ongoing Israeli strikes.” During their meeting in New York, Aoun expressed gratitude for Guterres’ role in renewing the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in ...

Salam Reaffirms State Monopoly on Weapons

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam underscored on Tuesday his government’s commitment to fully implementing its ministerial policy statement, with a particular focus on ensuring that only the Lebanese state retains the right to bear arms. Salam highlighted the government’s “determination to pursue reforms and extend state authority across all ...

Lebanon Moves Toward Clean Energy with New Solar Farms

Lebanon took a significant step toward its energy transition on Tuesday, as Minister of Energy Joe Saddi signed power purchase agreements with Joe Dakak, managing director of CMA CGM in Lebanon and the Middle East. The contracts authorize Merit Invest, a subsidiary of the French shipping giant, to develop three solar farms with a total capacity of ...

Israel Is Not Lebanon’s Problem

Lebanon’s pursuit of its national interests is obstructed by a complex array of domestic and regional actors, with Hezbollah at the forefront, alongside some Arab capitals and the “Palestinian issue.” Lebanon must snap out of its shyness and stand up for its national interests, making it clear that it has bigger fish to fry than the ...

EU Urges Full Respect of Lebanon-Israel Ceasefire

The European Union (EU) on Tuesday called for “full respect and implementation” of the November ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel, following deadly violence in southern Lebanon. An EU spokesperson condemned Sunday’s Israeli raid in the town of Kfar Tibnit, where civilians, including three children, lost their ...

Aoun Calls on US to Enforce Ceasefire, Boost Military Aid

On the sidelines of his visit to the United Nations in New York, President Joseph Aoun met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday evening, an encounter focused on Lebanon’s security and post-conflict recovery. President Aoun called on the United States to pressure Israel into fully implementing its obligations under the November ...

Tehran’s Grip on Lebanon: Will the Shia Duo Break Free or Fall in Line?

On the eve of the first anniversary of the September war, Israel escalated its strikes. A raid on Bint Jbeil on Sunday killed five civilians, including three children, and wounded two others. The attack has reignited speculation over the possible activation of “Plan B,” as outlined by US Senator Lindsey Graham, who declared that Hezbollah’s ...

At the UN, Aoun Reaffirms Gradual Disarmament

President Joseph Aoun is set to deliver Lebanon’s address before the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday. Aoun, who arrived in New York on Sunday, held a series of meetings on Monday with representatives of the Lebanese diaspora as well as with European leaders, urging the latter to pressure Israel to end its ongoing air raids on ...

Cabinet Approves 2026 Budget Without Salary Adjustments

The Council of Ministers approved the draft 2026 state budget Monday evening, with officials emphasizing fiscal discipline, revenue compliance and accountability. Information Minister Paul Morcos stated that the budget includes no new broad-based taxes, relying instead on stricter enforcement of existing laws and improved revenue estimation. One ...

Consumer Prices Rise by 0.56% in August

Lebanon’s Central Administration of Statistics (CAS) reported that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 0.56% in August 2025. On a year-on-year basis, the index increased by 14.17%, the agency said in a statement. The highest monthly increases were recorded in the North Lebanon governorate (+0.96%), followed by South Lebanon (+0.80%), Beirut ...