Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has assured a visiting US Treasury delegation that Lebanon is rigorously enforcing anti-money laundering measures and combating terror financing. 

The meeting also addressed ongoing Israeli violations of the ceasefire and the need for full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has reaffirmed his country's commitment to combating money laundering and terror financing during a meeting with a high-level US Treasury delegation at Beirut's Baabda Palace. 

The delegation was led by Sebastian Gorka, US Deputy Assistant President for Counterterrorism Affairs, as Lebanon seeks to address international concerns about financial regulation while navigating complex regional security challenges.

Financial Compliance Measures

President Aoun emphasized that "Lebanon is rigorously implementing the approved measures to prevent money laundering, smuggling, or the use of funds in terror financing, and imposes strict penalties for all financial crimes regardless of its type." 

He noted that beyond financial controls, Lebanese security forces are actively pursuing terrorist cells operating within the country. 

The discussions followed recent US Treasury sanctions targeting individuals accused of facilitating multimillion-dollar transfers from Iran to Hezbollah.

Call for Israeli Compliance

The Lebanese president urged increased international pressure on Israel to halt continued violations of Lebanese sovereignty and adhere to both UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and the November 2024 ceasefire agreement. Aoun stressed the importance of deploying Lebanese army forces along the southern border and implementing the government's plan to ensure exclusive state control over weapons—a reference to ongoing tensions with Hezbollah's military presence in southern Lebanon.

US Support and Domestic Divisions

The American delegation expressed willingness to assist Lebanon in achieving security stability in southern regions and supporting the army's extension of state authority throughout Lebanese territory. However, President Aoun's recent call for negotiations with Israel to resolve outstanding issues has created domestic political divisions, with some viewing dialogue as pragmatic and others as capitulation to international pressure. Israel has not responded to the negotiation proposal, instead intensifying airstrikes in violation of the ceasefire.