Iran opposes the disarmament of Hezbollah, says a Khamenei adviser
Last Tuesday, the government of Nawaf Salam announced it had tasked the army with preparing a plan to implement the disarmament of militias, including Hezbollah, before the end of the year. Two days later, the cabinet approved the 'objectives' laid out in a roadmap proposed by U.S. envoy Tom Barrack to ensure the proper implementation of the ceasefire agreement, which came into effect on Nov. 27, 2024, after 13 months of war between Hezbollah and Israel.
'Iran has always helped the Lebanese people and the Resistance'
'The Islamic Republic of Iran is certainly opposed to the disarmament of Hezbollah, because Iran has always helped the Lebanese people and the Resistance, and continues to do so,' Ali Akbar Velayati said in an interview with the Tasnim news agency.
On Thursday, the deputy commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Brigadier General Iraj Masjedi, also commented on the Salam government's decision. He asserted that Hezbollah 'will never be disarmed.' 'The American-Zionist axis will not succeed in disarming the 'Resistance,'' he insisted.
Recent remarks by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had already sparked outrage in the Land of the Cedars. He had stated that Iran would support any decision taken by the Shiite party. According to comments cited by some local media but absent from the transcript of an interview published by the Islamic Republic News Agency, Araghchi had also said the Hezbollah disarmament plan 'is doomed to fail.' Lebanese Foreign Minister Joe Raggi denounced this as 'Iranian interference.'
The 'Barrack Plan' calls for the disarmament of Hezbollah and other armed groups by the end of the year, along with a set of other measures, such as implementing a series of reforms, supporting the Lebanese Army, and demarcating the borders with Syria and Israel.
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