Beirut, August 14 — Tensions in Lebanon are running high as the country’s leaders have made it crystal clear: their decisions will be made in Beirut, not dictated from outside. This strong stance came during a high-profile visit by Iran’s security chief, Ali Larijani, amid heated debates over plans to disarm Hezbollah.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam delivered a firm statement, saying Lebanon “will tolerate neither tutelage nor diktat” from any foreign power. His words came after Iran expressed strong opposition to the government’s decision to have the army prepare a disarmament plan for Hezbollah by year’s end.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun echoed that sentiment, warning against anyone “bearing arms and using foreign backing as leverage.” Both leaders stressed that Lebanon’s sovereignty is non-negotiable.
For decades, Iran’s influence in Lebanon has been deeply rooted through its support of Hezbollah — funding, arming, and backing the group as part of Tehran’s “axis of resistance” against Israel. But recent events have shifted the balance.
Over the past year, Hezbollah suffered major blows: the loss of its leader Hassan Nasrallah during clashes with Israel, the fall of Syrian ally Bashar al-Assad, and direct conflict between Iran and Israel. With these developments, Hezbollah’s once-unchallenged role in Lebanese politics is weakening.
Still, Hezbollah has condemned the disarmament move as a “grave sin,” while Larijani pushed back against accusations of Iranian interference, instead accusing the United States of meddling. “We did not give you any plan,” he said, emphasizing that Iran would respect Lebanon’s internal decisions — provided they are made in consultation with “the resistance.”
Despite disagreements, Larijani pledged that Iran would “stand by” Lebanon through its hardships, reflecting the enduring — yet now increasingly tested — relationship between Beirut and Tehran.
As Larijani’s visit continues, including meetings with senior Lebanese officials and a planned stop at Nasrallah’s grave, one message from Lebanon’s leadership rings louder than ever: the country’s path forward will be decided by its own people, not shaped by foreign hands.
