Hezbollah praises Iranian diplomacy while Christian rivals demand total disarmament of the militia

Hezbollah has expressed appreciation for Iranian diplomatic efforts concerning a potential US-Iran agreement, a move met with skepticism by its Lebanese rivals. The Christian Lebanese Forces party stated that any agreement between the US and Iran is bilateral and does not practically alter the situation in Lebanon, emphasizing that Israel, not the US, is the entity fighting there.

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem sent a letter thanking Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Qalibaf for his efforts to compel Israel to halt military operations. However, Hezbollah's opposition, including the Lebanese Forces and the Kataeb Party, views this as "lip service" from Tehran, aimed at maintaining Hezbollah's fight for Iranian interests. They argue that a temporary ceasefire is insufficient and that the real solution lies in dismantling all armed groups operating outside state control, primarily Hezbollah.

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the entity fighting in Lebanon is Israel, not the United States.

The Kataeb Party, which considers Hezbollah a threat to Lebanese sovereignty, stressed that Lebanon is not bound by any agreement unless the Lebanese state is officially involved. They called for an Israeli withdrawal, a halt to attacks, and the consolidation of all weapons under state authority.

Meanwhile, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam are reportedly facing pressure to abandon their current negotiating track. This pressure arises from claims that the US-Iranian agreement could lead to a ceasefire in Lebanon. However, Aoun and Salam are reportedly committed to pursuing direct negotiations, maintaining that it is Lebanon's only path to achieving a full and stable resolution.

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the solution is not simply a temporary ceasefire, but a definitive end to Lebanon's cycle of wars. This, they argued, must be achieved by dismantling all armed groups operating outside state control, first and foremost Hezbollah.