President Joseph Aoun and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Baabda Presidential Palace, on July 29, 2026. (Credit: lbpresidency/X)
President Joseph Aoun welcomed Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to Baabda Palace on Wednesday, walking him to the door at the end of their meeting in a highly symbolic gesture. The cordial scene contrasted with the fact that the two had not met since March.Relations between Aoun and Berri had become strained over disagreements regarding direct negotiations with Israel and, later, the framework agreement reached on June 26. Since then, however, Berri has softened his position, saying he supports any initiative that secures an Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon. Another source of tension was the case of Iran's designated ambassador, Mohammad Reza Shibani, whom Foreign Minister Joe Rajji declared persona non grata in March. Berri reportedly wanted Aoun to rein in Rajji's handling of the issue.According to information obtained by...
President Joseph Aoun welcomed Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to Baabda Palace on Wednesday, walking him to the door at the end of their meeting in a highly symbolic gesture. The cordial scene contrasted with the fact that the two had not met since March.Relations between Aoun and Berri had become strained over disagreements regarding direct negotiations with Israel and, later, the framework agreement reached on June 26. Since then, however, Berri has softened his position, saying he supports any initiative that secures an Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon. Another source of tension was the case of Iran's designated ambassador, Mohammad Reza Shibani, whom Foreign Minister Joe Rajji declared persona non grata in March. Berri reportedly wanted Aoun to rein in Rajji's handling of the issue.According to information obtained by...
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