In a post in Arabic language on his X account on Saturday, Baqaei reacted to comments and allegations made by Joseph Aoun, writing, “He sells out the one standing by his side and buys the one standing against him. He abandons those who supported him and backs those who put him in hardship.”
Baqaei’s remarks came amid escalating tensions following comments by Aoun in an interview with CNN, in which the Lebanese president claimed that Iran was using Lebanon as leverage in its negotiations with the United States and described such an approach as “unacceptable.”
Earlier on Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi also rejected Aoun’s allegations and urged him to focus on Lebanon’s actual adversary rather than Tehran.
“Save Lebanon from your real foe, Mr. President,” Araqchi said in a post on X, criticizing Aoun for overlooking the primary threat facing Lebanon.
The Iranian foreign minister said Aoun’s comments gave the impression that Iran, rather than the Israeli regime, was responsible for Lebanon’s current predicament.
“Based on Mr. Aoun's comments, one would think it is Iran that has occupied one-fifth of Lebanon, displaced one-quarter of the Lebanese people, and is bombing his country on a daily basis,” Araqchi stated.
He also dismissed Aoun’s assertion that Iran was treating Lebanon as a bargaining chip in talks with Washington, saying, “Had Lebanon been a bargaining chip for Iran, we would have reached a deal long ago.”