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Lebanese President Joseph Aoun received a delegation from the U.S. Treasury Department at the presidential palace Saturday, days after Washington imposed new sanctions on Hezbollah members.
The meeting took place at Baabda Palace, east of Beirut, according to a statement from the Lebanese presidency. The U.S. delegation was led by Sebastian Gorka and included Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John Hurley and National Security Council counterterrorism expert Rudolph Atallah.
"Lebanon is strictly implementing existing measures to prevent money laundering, the smuggling of money into the country through illegal channels, and its use in financing terrorism," Aoun said during the meeting.
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The discussions covered ongoing contacts with the International Monetary Fund and potential steps to overcome the country's economic crisis. Aoun briefed the delegation on government measures aimed at improving the financial situation, according to the presidency statement.
The Lebanese president also addressed the security situation in the country's south, emphasizing the importance of international pressure to halt Israeli attacks on Lebanon. The statement noted that Aoun has called for negotiations with Israel, stressing that war produces no results—an option the statement said is supported by the United States.
The U.S. delegation expressed support for the Lebanese government's efforts to restore security and stability in southern regions under Israeli attack, the statement said. The Americans pledged backing for the Lebanese army in establishing state authority across all Lebanese territory and collecting weapons.
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