Rubio after meeting Aoun: Lebanon is moving toward regaining its sovereignty... and Washington praises steps to disarm Hezbollah

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described his meeting with President General Joseph Aoun as "very positive," praising what he said was progress by the Lebanese state on the path toward restoring its sovereignty and consolidating stability.

In a statement, the US State Department said Rubio commended the "courage of the Lebanese government under President Aoun," praising its efforts to restore state sovereignty, disarm Hezbollah, dismantle its military structure, and move forward toward peace, following the latest round of talks held with Israel in Rome.

In another context, Rubio warned of Iranian efforts to control the Strait of Hormuz, saying that some officials in Tehran are seeking to use the waterway as leverage against the international community.

He stressed that the United States will continue to take the necessary measures to ensure the security of international navigation, calling on allied countries to shoulder a greater share of the responsibility by providing the logistical and financial support needed to protect global shipping traffic.

Rubio also addressed the Iranian attack that targeted Jordan, explaining that an Iranian missile managed to penetrate air defense systems despite the interception of most of the missiles. He also indicated that the death of the American soldier in Iraq was the result of an accidental incident while dealing with an Iranian drone that had been shot down.