Lebanese President Joseph Aoun delivered a sharp rebuke of Iran and its Hezbollah ally Friday, accusing Tehran of using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in its confrontation with the United States and Israel while disregarding the wishes of the Lebanese people.

In an interview with CNN, Aoun said Lebanese citizens have grown weary of decades of conflict fueled by outside actors and rejected efforts by Iran and Hezbollah to speak on their behalf.

Addressing Iran directly, Aoun said, "You are not trying to help us. The people of Lebanon are paying the price for the sake of your own interest."

"Our interests do not coincide with your interests," he added.

Aoun reserved some of his strongest criticism for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which has long backed and armed Hezbollah.

"It's not your country, it's our country," he said.

The Lebanese leader also accused Tehran of attempting to leverage Lebanon in negotiations with Washington. He specifically rejected a statement issued Wednesday by the Revolutionary Guards demanding an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon as part of a broader U.S.-Iran ceasefire arrangement.

"They are using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in their negotiation with the U.S.," Aoun said. "It's unacceptable."

His remarks came as a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon hangs in the balance.

Israel and Lebanon reached an agreement this week aimed at halting hostilities, though the deal depends on Hezbollah ending attacks and withdrawing its fighters from southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah, which was not part of the negotiations, quickly rejected the agreement.

Aoun also took aim at Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem, who denounced the ceasefire as a "surrender" and claimed it lacked public support.

"The Lebanese people are not your people," Aoun said, rejecting Qassem's assertion that he speaks for the country.

According to Aoun, Lebanese citizens from multiple religious communities, including many Shiites, have told him they are exhausted by the cycle of war with Israel and repeated destruction of homes and communities.

"They deserve not seeing their homes destroyed every five to 10 years," he said.

Aoun has pledged to strengthen the authority of the Lebanese state and curb Hezbollah's military influence, which has expanded for decades with support from Tehran.

While Hezbollah remains one of the most powerful political and military forces in Lebanon, Aoun said ordinary Lebanese are increasingly demanding stability, sovereignty, and an end to conflicts driven by foreign interests.

The president also highlighted the human cost of the fighting, saying entire Lebanese families have been wiped out during the conflict.

"They are Lebanese people," Aoun said. "They are not Naim Qassem's people."