Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected Lebanese President Joseph Aoun's accusation that Lebanon is a 'bargaining chip' in Iran's hands in negotiations with the U.S., writing on X: 'If Lebanon were our bargaining chip with the U.S., we would have had a deal long ago.' Araghchi further told Aoun: 'One might think that Iran is the one that occupied a fifth of Lebanon, caused the displacement of a quarter of Lebanon's population and attacks your country daily. Defend Lebanon against its real enemy.' Last night, Lebanon's president said that 'Lebanese citizens are paying the price for Iran's interests.'