Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran
Tehran, Sep 24: Tehran has firmly rejected speculation that Hezbollah is losing strength, with Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf declaring the group “more alive and coherent than ever.” Speaking during an online event titled The Story of War, Qalibaf dismissed Western narratives about Hezbollah’s decline, even after the death of its former leader Seyed Hassan Nasrallah, and said the movement continues to play a vital role in the regional resistance axis.
He challenged the logic of U.S. calls to disarm Hezbollah if it were truly defeated, pointing instead to the group’s continued influence and strategic relevance. Qalibaf also defended Hamas' October 7, 2023 Al-Aqsa Flood Operation, calling it a legitimate and strategically sound act of resistance. He stressed that the operation was initiated solely by Hamas, without prior coordination with Iran or Hezbollah—a position echoed by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and the late Nasrallah.
Clarifying Iran’s role, Qalibaf said Tehran supports Hezbollah and Hamas politically and ideologically but does not dictate their decisions. He framed this support as essential to defending both regional stability and Iran’s own national security interests. According to him, backing resistance groups aligns with broader Islamic principles and strategic necessities.
Meanwhile, Israel has reiterated its willingness to support efforts in Lebanon aimed at disarming Hezbollah. In a statement from August, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said Israel is open to reducing its military presence in the region if the Lebanese Armed Forces take concrete steps to dismantle Hezbollah’s military capabilities, in coordination with U.S.-led efforts. The statement called for cooperation toward a “more secure and stable future” for both countries.
Despite this diplomatic signaling, Iran continues to present Hezbollah and Hamas as independent yet aligned actors in a broader resistance front—one that Tehran claims remains strong and strategically justified.