Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has firmly rejected reports that he could meet with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu during his visit to Washington, declaring that he has no intention of holding talks with the Israeli leader and would immediately leave if the two were to find themselves in the same room.

In an interview with the longtime Lebanese newspaper An-Nahar, Aoun dismissed speculation that a meeting with Netanyahu was being planned as part of diplomatic efforts in Washington.

“It is true that the issue of relations between Israel and Lebanon is on the agenda of the President of the United States, but the reports about a meeting between us are not true. I have no intention of doing so,” Aoun was quoted as saying.

The newspaper further quoted the Lebanese president as saying, “The meeting will not take place as long as Israeli attacks against Lebanese civilians and the Israeli occupation continue. If, by chance, we both end up in the same room, I intend to leave it immediately.”

During the interview, Aoun also outlined how Lebanon expects to implement the provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding signed in Washington.

According to Aoun, a new oversight body known as MCG4L will be established, consisting of American, Lebanese, and Israeli representatives under the leadership of U.S. General Joseph Clifford. The committee will operate from the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon, though Aoun emphasized there will be no direct coordination between Lebanese and Israeli military officers.

He said the new trilateral committee will replace the previous ceasefire monitoring framework, commonly known as the “Mechanism Committee.”

Aoun also revealed that France will not have officers serving on the new oversight body. However, he said Paris will continue assisting the Lebanese Armed Forces in cooperation with Saudi Arabia.

Addressing the issue of Hezbollah’s weapons, Aoun said Lebanon will not establish a special military unit dedicated to disarming the terrorist organization. He explained that he does not distinguish between officers within the Lebanese army and expressed confidence in the military’s existing command structure.

“We have full confidence in all the officers and soldiers of the Lebanese Army,” he said.

Aoun reiterated that while the Memorandum of Understanding reached in Washington “is not ideal,” he believes it is “a realistic document that allows Lebanon to regain control of the territories occupied by the IDF in southern Lebanon.”

The Lebanese president also defended his government’s decision to send the country’s defense minister as Lebanon’s official representative to the funeral of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran, despite criticism from some quarters.

“We continue to maintain normal diplomatic relations with Iran,” Aoun said. “If other Arab countries participated and sent their own delegations of condolences, why should Lebanon be expected to act differently?”