Why the US must prioritize Hezbollah in the Iran deal - opinion

From the perspective of The Jerusalem Post, the ongoing US-Iran negotiations present a critical juncture where the United States risks overlooking a paramount threat: Hezbollah. The article forcefully argues that separating the Iran nuclear talks from the Israel-Hezbollah front is a strategic error, as Hezbollah functions as an extension of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and is intrinsically linked to Tehran's hegemonic ambitions.

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Hezbollah is not an independent actor, but a forward arm of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, deeply intertwined with the regime and responsible, alongside Tehran, for American bloodshed.

Having witnessed firsthand the impact of Hezbollah's aggression along the Lebanese border, the author emphasizes the group's evolution from a mere terrorist organization to a de facto power broker in Lebanon. The repeated strikes against Israeli civilians and the displacement of over 60,000 Israelis underscore the immediate danger posed by Hezbollah's Radwan forces and its extensive missile arsenal. This is not merely an Israeli security concern; it is a direct challenge to regional stability.

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If the United States reaches a deal with Iran, will Washington pressure Israel to halt operations in the North, leaving tens of thousands of Hezbollah missiles intact and its terror infrastructure free to regenerate?

The piece stresses that Hezbollah's actions, funded and directed by Iran, have a global reach, extending to terror networks and criminal enterprises that directly harm American interests, including drug trafficking that fuels addiction in the United States. The article raises a crucial question for Washington: Will a deal with Iran inadvertently pressure Israel to cease operations against Hezbollah, thereby allowing the terror group to consolidate its power and rebuild its capabilities?

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It now exercises effective veto power over the Lebanese state.

For Israel, the situation is dire. The article conveys a sense of urgency, highlighting that Hezbollah's control over Lebanon and its continued threat mean that the northern front will remain volatile regardless of developments with Iran. The failure to address Hezbollah comprehensively in any US-brokered agreement would be a grave miscalculation, leaving a significant threat to both Israel and the broader international community unchecked. The Jerusalem Post views this as a critical oversight that the US must rectify.

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This is not merely Israel’s problem; it is a direct challenge to US strategic interests.