Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, Sheikh Naim Qassem, stated that the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States is a “formal declaration of the defeat of America and Israel,” marking a new phase following what he described as the failure of the American-Israeli project.
During a speech at the central Ashura procession on the tenth day of Muharram, Qassem declared that all of Lebanon has become a 'South,' with Hezbollah and its support base facing a “war of cancellation.” He praised the 'Karbala stance' of the Lebanese people for stopping aggression and achieving a “great victory.”
Qassem noted Iran's resilience amid adversity, asserting that U.S. and Israeli attempts to change Iran’s regime and dominate it have failed. He thanked Iran, affirming a continued coordination, as its strength combined with field resistance helps establish a balance to defeat Israel and expel it from their land.
He argued that Israel remains in Lebanon due to desires to seize and occupy it as part of a greater Israel, claiming the aggression has failed in its expansionist goals, leaving Israel no choice but to fully withdraw from all Lebanese land and cease aggression by air, land, and sea.
Qassem emphasized that all solutions should prioritize full sovereignty and independence for Lebanon, rejecting any normalization or reduction in adversarial stance towards Israel, and denying Israel any gains or partial presence on Lebanese soil. He argued that commitments undermining Lebanon’s sovereignty “will not pass,” and no one has the right to sign such agreements.
He confirmed that resistance remains “robust in its presence, decisions, and capabilities,” describing it as the “bedrock of Lebanon’s independence and liberation.” He added that sovereignty could be achieved by adhering to the results of the November 27, 2024, agreement, limiting deployment south of the Litani River.
Calling on the Lebanese authorities to reassess their paths, Qassem urged them to halt what he termed compliance with foreign impositions from the United States and Israel, warning that authorities cannot oppose more than half of the Lebanese population and proceed normally.
Hezbollah is “ready and extending a hand,” urging to seize the current opportunity, cooperate with Arab and foreign countries supporting Lebanon’s sovereignty and reconstruction, and benefit from the Iran-U.S. understanding to bolster Lebanon’s sovereignty.
Qassem proposed that after Israeli withdrawal, there should be a joint discussion on a comprehensive national security strategy. He called for efforts to build the state, fix the economy, recover depositors’ funds, reconstruct, and strengthen the Lebanese army.
Concluding, he declared Iran a “path to salvation,” welcoming contributions from Arab countries in rebuilding Lebanon, restoring its sovereignty, strengthening its army, and preventing Israel from achieving its goals.