Qassem calls for 'mutual security' with Israel, rejects disarmament
Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem on Wednesday hailed an understanding reached between Tehran and Washington to end the regional war as a "great victory", calling it a "pivotal point" for Lebanon.
Although the U.S.-Iran deal to end the Middle East war has not been officially released, American and Iranian officials, as well as mediator Pakistan, have said it includes Lebanon.
"We congratulate the Iranian people, the resistance and the countries and peoples of the region and the world who yearn for independence and freedom on this great victory," Qassem said in a televised address.
He expressed thanks to Iran for "linking the Lebanese arena" to the deal and "forcing Israel to stop its aggression" on the country.
Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war on March 2 with rocket fire at Israel in support of its backer Tehran, sparking an Israeli military campaign including massive airstrikes and a ground invasion.
While violence declined in Lebanon after the deal was announced on Monday, Israeli strikes on the south have killed at least five people since then.
Under U.S. pressure, Lebanon has been holding direct talks with Israel in Washington since April seeking to end the hostilities and separate the conflict from the wider regional war, but the Iran-U.S. deal announcement has reshuffled the cards.
Qassem urged Lebanon to take advantage of "this pivotal point following the agreement... to achieve the expulsion of Israel" from Lebanese territory.
The leader of the Iran-backed group again urged Lebanese authorities to abandon direct negotiations, repeating the group's view that they simply amount to "concessions".
A fifth round of talks is scheduled for next week.
"The ceiling for the negotiations with the Israeli enemy is mutual security... and any proposal under the banner of disarmament will not pass, as this is an Israeli recipe for taking everything and wrecking the country," Qassem said.
Hezbollah also rejects a Lebanese government decision to disarm the group, which was announced after a 2024 ceasefire that halted a previous round of hostilities between Israel and the militants.
Qassem urged Lebanese authorities not to "agree with Israel on its demands interfering in our internal affairs".
"Everything linked to organizing our domestic situation, whether the issue of weapons or the economy, or the national security strategy or defense strategy... it all must be completely outside the negotiations. This we discuss internally," he said.
"In any negotiation, the main demand must be Lebanon's sovereignty," he added.
Source: Agence France Presse
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