The United States is looking to use a “moment” in Lebanon to cut Iranian funding to Hezbollah and push the group to give up its weapons, Reuters reported, citing the US Treasury Department’s top sanctions official.
In an interview with Reuters, John Hurley, the US undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said that Iran has managed to send about $1 billion to Hezbollah this year despite Western sanctions hurting its economy.
The US has been implementing a “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran to stop its uranium enrichment and reduce its influence in the region, including in Lebanon, where Hezbollah has been weakened after Israel’s 2023–24 war.
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Last week, Washington imposed new sanctions on two people accused of helping fund Hezbollah through money exchange networks.
“There’s a moment in Lebanon now. If we could get Hezbollah to disarm, the Lebanese people could get their country back,” Hurley told Reuters in Istanbul. He added that the goal is to stop Iranian money from flowing to Hezbollah.
According to Reuters, Iran has strengthened ties with China, Russia, and nearby countries like the UAE since talks over its nuclear and missile programs broke down in September, leading to renewed UN sanctions.
Western powers accuse Iran of secretly developing nuclear weapons, though Tehran says its nuclear program is only for civilian use.
Reuters also reported that Israel carried out heavy airstrikes in southern Lebanon last Thursday, claiming Hezbollah was trying to rebuild its military strength despite a ceasefire deal made a year ago.
Lebanon’s government has promised to disarm all non-state groups, including Hezbollah, which was formed in 1982 by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. Though Hezbollah has allowed Lebanese troops to seize some of its weapons, it refuses to completely disarm.
