On Saturday, September 27, 2025, a high-stakes gathering in Beirut cast a spotlight on the tangled web of Middle Eastern alliances and enmities, as Iran’s Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, called on regional countries to put aside their differences and unite against what he described as “Israel’s conspiracies.” The message, delivered during a commemoration event for the late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, underscored the shifting dynamics and deepening tensions that have gripped the region since the outbreak of the Gaza war nearly two years ago.
Larijani’s visit to Lebanon was no ordinary diplomatic stopover. According to the Associated Press, he arrived in Beirut specifically to attend the anniversary of Israel’s assassination of Nasrallah, a pivotal figure whose legacy continues to shape Hezbollah’s identity and strategy. The event drew thousands, including prominent Lebanese and Hezbollah officials, all gathered next to Nasrallah’s grave in a southern Beirut suburb—a potent setting for Larijani’s appeal to regional unity.
“Today, amid Israel’s conspiracies, regional states should closely cooperate and even if there were disagreements between them they should put these disagreements aside,” Larijani declared after a nearly hour-long meeting with Lebanon’s Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, as reported by AP. His words were more than rhetoric; they reflected a growing sense of urgency among Iran and its allies as they confront what they see as a common threat emanating from Israel.
Iran’s support for Hezbollah is hardly new. Over the past four decades, Tehran has supplied the group with weapons and funding, helping to transform Hezbollah into one of the most formidable non-state military actors in the region. Yet, the cost of this alliance has been steep. Hezbollah suffered heavy losses during a 14-month war with Israel that ended in November 2024, losing many of its political and military commanders to Israeli airstrikes. The conflict, which drew to a close with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire, left the group battered but unbowed.
The roots of the latest Israel-Hezbollah confrontation stretch back to October 7, 2023, when a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel triggered the ongoing war in Gaza. In the immediate aftermath, Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel from Lebanon, positioning itself as a staunch supporter of Hamas and the broader Palestinian cause. This escalation marked a significant deepening of the region’s interconnected conflicts, with each new round of violence reverberating far beyond national borders.
But the war’s fallout has not been limited to Lebanon and Israel. In June 2025, Israel launched a series of airstrikes in Iran, igniting a 12-day war that had devastating consequences for both sides. According to AP, the strikes killed several key Iranian military commanders and targeted the country’s arsenal of ballistic missiles, while also decimating large swathes of Iran’s air defenses. The brief but intense conflict underscored just how quickly local skirmishes can spiral into broader confrontations, drawing in new actors and raising the stakes for the entire region.
Earlier this month, the conflict took yet another twist when Israel struck the headquarters of Hamas’ political leadership in Qatar. The attack occurred as the group’s top figures gathered to consider a U.S. proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, signaling Israel’s willingness to pursue its adversaries well beyond its immediate borders. The move sent shockwaves through regional capitals, prompting renewed calls for coordination among countries that have often found themselves at odds.
Larijani’s visit to Beirut was as much about diplomacy as it was about symbolism. During his meeting with Nabih Berri, he praised Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem’s recent call for Saudi Arabia to “open a new page” after years of tense relations, describing it as “a step in the right direction.” Larijani argued that, despite their differences, Saudi Arabia and Hezbollah face a “common enemy” in Israel—a sentiment that reflects the complex and often contradictory nature of Middle Eastern alliances.
Asked about the possibility of new Israeli strikes against Iran, Larijani did not mince words. “We are ready to face all scenarios but I don’t think that the Israelis will behave in this stupid way,” he said, warning, “If they do that, they will receive strong retaliation.” His remarks, reported by AP, left little doubt about Iran’s willingness to respond forcefully to any perceived aggression.
The commemoration ceremony itself was marked by defiance and resolve. In a televised speech aired during the event, Hezbollah’s current leader, Naim Kassem, declared that the group is in the process of restoring its military capabilities and is “ready to confront any escalation by Israel.” Kassem also reiterated Hezbollah’s rejection of the Lebanese government’s decision in August 2025 to disarm the group, insisting that “we are in the middle of an existential war” with Israel and would not hand over their weapons.
Kassem’s stance highlights a central dilemma for Lebanon. The government’s push to disarm Hezbollah has been met with fierce resistance from the group and its supporters, who argue that relinquishing their arsenal would leave Lebanon vulnerable to Israeli aggression. At the same time, critics contend that Hezbollah’s military autonomy undermines the authority of the Lebanese state and risks dragging the country into further conflict.
The recent series of escalations—spanning Lebanon, Gaza, Iran, and even Qatar—have made it clear that the region’s conflicts are increasingly interwoven. The lines between state and non-state actors, local disputes and regional rivalries, have blurred, creating a volatile environment where alliances can shift quickly and the stakes are often existential.
For Iran, the imperative to maintain and strengthen its alliances has never been greater. The loss of key military commanders and the destruction of critical infrastructure during the June 2025 war with Israel have left the country more exposed than at any point in recent memory. At the same time, Hezbollah’s losses in Lebanon have underscored the risks inherent in relying on proxy forces to project power and influence.
Yet, as Larijani’s visit to Beirut demonstrated, there remains a strong commitment among Iran and its allies to resist what they perceive as Israeli expansionism and aggression. Whether this resolve will be enough to overcome internal divisions and external pressures is an open question—one that will likely shape the region’s future for years to come.
As thousands gathered in Beirut to honor Nasrallah and reaffirm their commitment to resistance, the message from Iran and Hezbollah was clear: unity in the face of adversity, no matter how daunting the odds. The coming months will reveal whether that unity can hold—or whether the region’s many fault lines will once again erupt into open conflict.