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Raggi made the comments following his meeting in Beirut with Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan. The Lebanese minister described the U.S.-brokered document as the beginning of the beginning while noting that it enables Lebanon to maintain an independent negotiating path. He listed the main discussion points as full ceasefire enforcement, complete Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory, prisoner and detainee releases, and land border demarcation.
The foreign minister told his counterpart that Lebanon has no alternative but to pursue the talks. “We are moving forward, and there is no other choice but negotiations,” Raggi said. He added that the framework preserves Lebanon’s independent track despite interference from Tehran.
According to Al Jazeera, the 14-point framework agreement was signed on June 26, 2026, in Washington after months of negotiations between the parties. The text states that Israel has no claim to Lebanese territory and that the Lebanese Armed Forces will assume authority in southern Lebanon pending verified disarmament of non-state armed groups. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and President Joseph Aoun both characterised the pact as an initial step toward restoring sovereignty, Al Jazeera reported.
Raggi further stressed that the government is implementing measures to restrict weapons exclusively to state institutions. He warned that the presence of armed groups operating alongside the Lebanese army brings only destruction. The minister reaffirmed the commitment to bolstering state sovereignty through this approach.
Kostanyan visited Beirut to deliver $150,000 in humanitarian aid from Armenia. The deputy minister expressed his country’s appreciation for Lebanon and its support for Lebanese sovereignty. Raggi thanked Armenia for the assistance and highlighted the positive role played by the Lebanese Armenian community while reiterating Lebanon’s support for Armenian sovereignty.
Al Jazeera reported that the agreement prompted protests and criticism in Beirut from various political factions shortly after its signing. A report from the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies noted that the deal ties Israeli redeployment to Lebanon’s progress on disarmament commitments. Lebanese officials have continued discussions on the next implementation phases as the ceasefire remains in effect.
