Youssef Raggi said the remarks crossed into territory that Lebanon considers its own, stressing that decisions about the country’s defence cannot be shaped from abroad [Getty]
Lebanon’s top diplomat hit back at an Iranian official who said the Tehran-backed Hezbollah was “more important than daily bread”, at a time when Washington and Tel Aviv are pressing Beirut to disarm the group.
Youssef Raggi said the remarks crossed into territory that Lebanon considers its own, stressing that decisions about the country’s defence cannot be shaped from abroad.
In a message addressed to his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, Raggi, who is a member of the staunchly anti-Hezbollah Lebanese Forces party, wrote on X: “I genuinely wanted to believe that Iran does not interfere in Lebanon’s internal affairs, until your Supreme Leader’s advisor Ali Akbar Velayati came out today to tell us what is truly important in Lebanon and warned us of the consequences of disarming Hezbollah.”
He added that “what is more important to us than water and bread is our sovereignty, our freedom, and the independence of our internal decision-making, free from ideological slogans and agendas that have harmed our country and continue to weigh heavily on it”.
Velayati had said earlier on Wednesday that “the presence of Hezbollah has become, for Lebanon, more important than daily bread”, describing the group as central to the country’s security and warning that disarming it would expose Lebanon to serious risks. He also said Iran would continue to support the group.
The comments drew criticism from Lebanese politicians opposed to Hezbollah, who argued that Iran should refrain from weighing in on internal debates.
The exchange comes as Lebanon continues to discuss the future of Hezbollah’s weapons and the country’s wider defence policy, with President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam urging all external actors to avoid inflaming civil tensions.
In a recent television interview, Raggi suggested that any related talks could be held in a neutral venue such as Switzerland. Araghchi responded that Iran does not interfere in Lebanese affairs and said there was no need for a third-country setting, inviting Raggi to Tehran and expressing readiness to visit Beirut if formally invited.
Iran has supported Hezbollah financially and militarily for decades, with some seeing it as giving Tehran undue influence, while Hezbollah frames the relationship as a longstanding alliance that has helped strengthen Lebanon’s defence against Israel.
Iran has supplied Hezbollah with a vast arsenal of rockets, missiles, drones, and explosives, enhancing the group’s ability to target Israeli military and civilian sites. Additionally, Iran has deployed IRGC advisers and helped establish training camps in Lebanon to build Hezbollah’s combat readiness against Israel.
Calls for disarmament have resurfaced since last year’s war with Israel, which caused widespread destruction across Lebanon, particularly in the south, where Israel continues to occupy five hilltop points.
Washington has been urging Beirut to disarm Hezbollah by the end of 2025, setting a firm deadline of 31 December as part of efforts to reinforce the fragile post-2024 ceasefire with Israel.
The United States has provided more than $3 billion in assistance to Lebanon’s army over two decades, but frustration has grown over what American officials view as slow and uneven steps on the ground.
US officials have warned that failure to meet the deadline could lead to renewed conflict, with Washington indicating it would hold Beirut responsible and may lead to expanded Israeli military operations against Lebanon.
Lebanon officially endorses the principle of disarmament, but implementation has been held back by deep political divisions.
Hezbollah rejects the plan, saying it would only consider handing over its weapons if Israel ends its attacks on Lebanon and withdraws from all remaining occupied Lebanese territory.
