Iran’s top security official, Ali Larijani, pledged continued backing for Lebanon on Wednesday during a visit to Beirut, following the Lebanese government’s order for the army to devise a plan to disarm Tehran-backed militant group Hezbollah.
Larijani’s trip comes after Tehran voiced strong opposition to the disarmament plan, which targets Hezbollah — a force that, before last year’s war with Israel, was widely believed to be better equipped than the Lebanese military.
“If… the Lebanese people are suffering, we in Iran will also feel this pain and we will stand by the dear people of Lebanon in all circumstances,” Larijani, head of Iran’s National Security Council, told reporters upon arrival in Beirut.
Dozens of Hezbollah supporters lined the road to the airport to greet Larijani, chanting slogans of support as he briefly stepped out of his car to acknowledge them.
During his visit, Larijani is scheduled to meet President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a close ally of Hezbollah.
The visit comes at a time of shifting dynamics in the region. Iran has faced setbacks in its long-running rivalry with Israel, including 12 days of open conflict between the two nations in June. Hezbollah’s influence has also waned since the November 2024 ceasefire that ended the war with Israel, with Lebanon’s new U.S.-backed government moving to further curb its power.
Hezbollah remains a central pillar of Iran’s “axis of resistance” — a regional alliance of armed groups, including Hamas in Gaza and Yemen’s Huthi rebels, united in their opposition to Israel. However, the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December has disrupted the weapons supply route from Iran to Hezbollah via Syria.
Tehran has declared its unwavering opposition to Lebanon’s disarmament plan, while Hezbollah has condemned the move as a “grave sin.”
