Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on Friday that a ceasefire agreed by his country should lead to “permanent agreements”, in his first televised address since a US-brokered deal ended six weeks of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

The ceasefire, reached on Thursday, halted hostilities between Israel and the Iran-backed armed group. Its text предусматривает that Israel and Lebanon will hold direct talks aimed at producing “peace between the two countries”.

Aoun thanked US President Donald Trump and regional partners for their role in securing the agreement, before outlining what he described as a transition to a new stage.

“Now, we all stand before a new phase: the transition from working towards a ceasefire to working towards permanent agreements that preserve the rights of our people, the unity of our land, and the sovereignty of our nation,” he said.

While he did not explicitly confirm that negotiations would lead to a formal peace deal with Israel, he stressed that engagement was necessary and not a concession. “These negotiations are not a sign of weakness, nor a retreat, nor a concession,” he said.

He only referred directly to Israel when outlining immediate priorities, including ending Israeli attacks on Lebanon and securing the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanese territory. Israel’s defence minister said troops would continue demolishing structures in southern Lebanon which he said were being used by Hezbollah.

The announcement has drawn criticism from Hezbollah, which opposes direct talks with Israel. Lawmakers affiliated with the group criticised the government’s decision to proceed with negotiations.

Aoun signalled a broader shift in Lebanon’s positioning within regional dynamics, making indirect references to both Hezbollah and Iran. “Today, we negotiate for ourselves and decide for ourselves. We are no longer a card in anyone’s game, nor an arena for anyone’s wars,” he said.

He added that he was prepared to “bear full responsibility” for the direction taken, stating he was ready to act “to liberate my land, protect my people, and save my country”.

Trump has said he intends to invite Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House for talks, though no date has been confirmed.