In a week marked by high-stakes diplomacy and escalating regional tensions, Lebanon’s top leadership delivered a rare and pointed rebuke to Iranian influence, signaling a potential shift in the country’s longstanding political dynamics. The confrontation unfolded as Ali Larijani, the recently appointed secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, arrived in Beirut on August 13, 2025, for a series of high-level meetings with Lebanese officials. Larijani’s visit—his first since Lebanon’s cabinet resolved to disarm Hezbollah and all other non-state armed groups—set the stage for an unusually public airing of grievances between the two countries.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, in remarks reported by AFP and confirmed during his meeting with Larijani, left little room for ambiguity. “We reject any interference in our internal affairs,” Aoun declared, pointedly referencing Iran’s deep ties to Hezbollah, the powerful Shiite militia and political party long considered Tehran’s most important proxy in the region. “It is forbidden for anyone…to bear arms and to use foreign backing as leverage.”
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam echoed the president’s stance, stating, “Lebanon will not accept, in any form, any interference in its internal affairs, and expects from the Iranian side a clear and explicit commitment to respect these principles.” According to reporting from AFP and FDD, these statements represent the most direct pushback against Iranian involvement in Lebanon in years, signaling a new willingness by Beirut to assert its sovereignty in the face of outside pressure.
The timing of Larijani’s visit was no accident. Just days earlier, Lebanon’s government made the momentous decision to disarm Hezbollah—a move that has drawn sharp criticism from Iranian officials, who have provided billions of dollars in funding and arms to the group over decades. According to FDD, the United States also played a role in this development, submitting a detailed plan through envoy Tom Barrack that calls for Hezbollah’s disarmament by the end of 2025.
Larijani, for his part, categorically denied that Iran was meddling in Lebanese affairs. Instead, he accused the United States of orchestrating the disarmament plan and interfering in Lebanese sovereignty. “Iran didn’t bring any plan to Lebanon – the U.S. did,” Larijani insisted, as reported by AFP. He went on to urge Lebanese leaders to remain vigilant against what he described as foreign manipulation: “Those intervening in Lebanese affairs are the ones dictating plans and deadlines.”
But Larijani’s message did not stop there. He invoked the region’s enduring flashpoints, telling his Lebanese hosts, “Your enemy is Israel, your friend is the resistance.” This statement, widely interpreted as an exhortation to preserve Hezbollah’s armed status, underscored Iran’s view of the group as a bulwark against Israeli influence—a position that has shaped Lebanon’s internal and external politics for decades.
The diplomatic drama was further complicated by Larijani’s circuitous route to Beirut. After holding meetings in Baghdad—where he and Iraqi National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji signed a new security agreement—Larijani’s plane was forced to detour over Turkey. Syria’s new government, in a move that surprised many observers, refused to grant overflight rights, reflecting shifting alliances and the unpredictable nature of regional politics, according to FDD’s reporting.
Despite the public sparring, President Aoun struck a note of cautious optimism regarding Lebanon’s relationship with Iran. “The friendship we seek with Iran must be with all Lebanese, not through one sect or component alone,” he remarked, emphasizing the need for national unity and mutual respect. During his talks with Larijani, Aoun reiterated, “Lebanon desires cooperation with Iran within the framework of sovereignty and friendship that are based on mutual respect.”
Hezbollah’s future remains a deeply contentious issue within Lebanon. The government’s commitment to disarm the organization—along with all other non-state armed groups—marks a significant departure from past policy, when such matters were often left unaddressed to preserve a fragile political balance. According to FDD experts, this new assertiveness is noteworthy but insufficient unless matched by concrete action. “In the past, Larijani’s visit would have been unnecessary, as Lebanese officials remained silent when Iranian officials signaled their disregard for Lebanon’s sovereignty. But while Beirut should be commended for pushing back on Iranian interference, it has yet to move beyond words or cosmetic actions—either against Tehran or Hezbollah. The rhetoric is important and should be commended, but Lebanon must act quickly to disarm Hezbollah and finally rid itself of the scourge of unrestrained militias,” said David Daoud, a senior fellow at FDD.
Other analysts see Larijani’s appointment and his assertive regional diplomacy as evidence of a recalibrated Iranian strategy. As Janatan Sayeh, a research analyst at FDD, observed, “Larijani’s appointment as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council—the regime’s highest security policymaking body, alongside the creation of a wartime defense council—reflects a recalibration of Iran’s regional strategy as it braces for a potential further Israeli attack. Unlike the war in June, any future retaliation may involve the regime deploying its proxies as well as missile barrages.”
Lebanon’s decision to instruct its army to develop a plan for a state monopoly on weapons is seen as a crucial step toward reasserting the government’s authority. Yet, as FDD analysts and Lebanese commentators have pointed out, the challenge lies in translating policy into practice. Hezbollah’s refusal to disarm—and its ability to mobilize significant public support—means that any attempt to implement the new policy could provoke internal unrest or even violence.
The international dimension cannot be ignored. The United States, eager to curtail Iran’s influence in the region, has taken a keen interest in Lebanon’s efforts to rein in Hezbollah. Washington’s submission of a detailed disarmament plan, and its ongoing diplomatic engagement, reflect a broader strategy to strengthen Lebanese state institutions and reduce the sway of armed factions loyal to foreign powers.
For ordinary Lebanese, the stakes could hardly be higher. Years of political paralysis, economic crisis, and sporadic violence have left the country’s future uncertain. Many see the current confrontation as a pivotal moment—one that could determine whether Lebanon finally moves toward genuine sovereignty or remains caught in the crosshairs of regional power struggles.
As President Aoun and his government navigate these treacherous waters, the world is watching. The coming months will reveal whether Lebanon can back its bold words with decisive action—and whether the shadow of outside influence can finally be lifted from its troubled politics.
