Lebanese officials swayed by US pressure and false promises
As significant parts of Lebanon remain under Israeli attack and occupation, Lebanese officials have recently accused Iran of interfering in the country's affairs and using Lebanon as leverage in its negotiations with the United States. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected the accusation, urging Lebanese leaders to save their country from its "real enemy." Iran Daily discussed the issue with Hassan Hanizadeh, an expert on Middle East affairs, who argued that Lebanese officials have adopted these positions under US pressure and the lure of false promises from Washington. According to him, this approach could ultimately push Lebanon toward civil war, providing Israel with a pretext to advance further into Lebanese territory under the guise of restoring security.
IRAN DAILY: Why has the Lebanese government directed its criticism toward Iran rather than Israel? What role have external actors and international pressure played in shaping this approach?
HANIZADEH: The recent approach adopted by Lebanese officials reflects a new scenario designed to exert pressure from within while bargaining from abroad.
This indicates that coordinated efforts are underway to pressure Hezbollah and disarm what is essentially a defensive Islamic-national movement. These efforts involve certain domestic Lebanese factions, the United States, some Arab countries in the region, and Israel itself.
Unfortunately, both President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam have, under US pressure and a series of false incentives from Washington, entered into a political atmosphere that, if allowed to continue, could ultimately lead Lebanon toward civil war.
Given that Lebanon's economy is fundamentally dependent on the United States, European countries, and certain Arab states, it is natural that attractive but ultimately deceptive promises have been offered to the Lebanese government by Washington and its regional allies—promises that are unlikely to materialize.
Moreover, the Lebanese government's silence regarding the killing of civilians in southern Lebanon reflects a sectarian outlook among parts of Lebanon's ruling establishment and some Arab governments toward the people of the south. Since many residents of southern Lebanon belong to the Shiite community, few political forces in Lebanon or the Arab world have come forward in their support. Many have remained indifferent to their suffering.
Some Arab states, because of this sectarian perspective, have effectively lined up alongside Israel and provided logistical and financial assistance to the Israeli military.
Iran and Hezbollah, on the other hand, have always viewed the issue from a humanitarian, Islamic, and moral standpoint. Tehran has invested considerable resources in supporting all segments of Lebanese society—whether Maronite Christians, Muslims, or Druze. Yet today, Lebanon's leadership, particularly the president and prime minister, appears determined to use both domestic and external pressure to disarm Hezbollah.
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