Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a televised interview, on Wednesday, that any decision on disarmament "will ultimately rest with Hezbollah itself".
Aragchi was commenting the announcement by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, onTuesday, that the government had tasked the army with developing a plan to restrict weapons to government forces by year end.
"We support any Hezbollah’s stance from afar, but we do not intervene in its decisions," he added, noting that the group had "rebuilt itself" following setbacks during its war with Israel.
Earlier during the day, Hezbollah said that it would treat a Lebanese government decision on disarmament "as if it did not exist", accusing the cabinet of committing a "grave sin".
"This decision undermines Lebanon's sovereignty and gives Israel a free hand to tamper with its security, geography, politics and future existence... Therefore, we will treat this decision as if it does not exist," the Iran-backed group said in a statement.
In this statement, Hezbollah strongly condemned the government's decision to restore the exclusive control of weapons to the Lebanese state, taken on Tuesday during a Cabinet meeting in the Presidential Palace.
According to Hezbollah, the decision amounts to “stripping Lebanon of the weapon of resistance against the Israeli enemy,” which “undermines the country’s position and capabilities” while granting Israel “what it couldn’t achieve through war.” The group recalled that in 2006, “the resistance forced Israel to halt its aggression and withdraw its forces.”
Hezbollah also claimed the move violates the Taif Agreement and the ministerial program, which commits the government to “take all necessary measures to liberate still-occupied Lebanese land and affirm state sovereignty over its territory through its own means.”
The party further accused the government of caving to American pressure, particularly that of US Special Envoy Tom Barrack. It cited Prime Minister Salam, who reportedly mentioned “ongoing discussions over the American plan” and said that the army was preparing a weapons inventory strategy to be completed by the end of the year.
The withdrawal of Hezbollah and Amal ministers from the cabinet session was presented as a “firm rejection of this decision” by “a large segment of the Lebanese people, across regions, sects and political affiliations.”
The statement concludes with Hezbollah asserting its readiness to engage in dialogue “once the Israeli aggression has ceased.” The group also called on the government to prioritize the “liberation of occupied lands,” in accordance with its declared commitments.
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