Exclusive: Trump demanded direct talks with Hezbollah but was denied

Former US President Donald Trump attempted to arrange direct talks with Hezbollah in late May, but his request was refused by Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad, according to sources. Middle East Eye reports that Trump called the Lebanese ambassador in Washington, expressing his desire for a direct conversation with the militant group.

However, officials were unsure whether to provide him with the correct phone number, leading to confusion and panic. Trump later claimed that he had spoken to Hezbollah through unidentified intermediaries and secured a commitment for the group to halt attacks against Israel. Despite this, Hezbollah sources dispute that Trump's request was successful, stating that officials were left baffled about who they should contact.

Lebanese officials feared that conceding to Trump's demands would place them in a politically difficult position, as they sought to maintain their image as the sole representatives of Lebanon in international negotiations. The US and Israel had been at odds since March, when Hezbollah's strike on Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei led to the US-Iranian conflict spilling into Lebanon.

However, despite the US's designation of Hezbollah as a terrorist organization and their refusal to engage with the group directly, the former president persisted in his efforts.