Speaking at the Israel Hayom Summit in New York, the former Deputy Special Presidential Envoy to the Middle East said pressure on Hezbollah and Iran should continue alongside diplomacy between Lebanon and Israel.

NEW YORK — Former US Deputy Special Presidential Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus called for continued pressure on Hezbollah and Iran while advancing diplomacy between Lebanon and Israel, saying a real opportunity for peace still exists.

Speaking at the Israel Hayom Summit in New York on November 11, Ortagus said Hezbollah should continue to be disarmed and Iran continue to be pressured, while Lebanon and Israel are brought together. She added that there is still a real chance for peace.

In her interview with Israel Hayom, Ortagus argued against conditioning progress solely on Hezbollah’s full disarmament.

She suggested that military and diplomatic cooperation between Israel and Lebanon could actually speed up the process of weakening the Iran-backed group.

Ortagus also pointed to Lebanon’s Shiite population in the south as central to any lasting solution, describing them as held “hostage” by Iran and Hezbollah. She said residents there need to see that peace with Israel would meaningfully improve their lives. She praised Lebanese President Joseph Aoun for going “very far” in negotiations and making significant efforts for peace.

On Iran, Ortagus stressed that President Trump’s priority remains preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, and she reiterated that regional stability is impossible while the current Iranian regime remains in power. She also voiced strong support for the US-Israel alliance and said she is prepared to fight isolationist voices within the Republican Party that seek to undermine it.

Ortagus shared a video clip of her remarks on X the following day, underscoring the core message of pursuing both security pressure and diplomatic outreach.