Hezbollah on US claims of Iranian control: No one can question our Lebanese identity

Hezbollah rejected U.S. claims that it is controlled by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force, saying it does not need anyone to certify its Lebanese identity or patriotism and defending its close ties with Tehran.

In a statement responding to separate announcements by the U.S. Treasury and State departments, Hezbollah said Washington was using the claim of Quds Force control to justify reinstating sanctions against the group.

Hezbollah described the move as part of a broader U.S. policy of targeting the group, its supporters and its wider community through political, financial and security pressure, which it said ultimately serves Israel’s security and aims to consolidate its occupation of southern Lebanon and advance its regional ambitions.

The group accused Washington of treating Lebanon as if it were under U.S. tutelage, saying the United States should instead be pressing Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon and halt attacks, including the destruction of homes, agricultural land and the killing of Lebanese.

Hezbollah said the sanctions were intended to weaken Lebanon’s sources of strength, create internal instability and divert attention away from the confrontation with Israel.

The group also rejected any questioning of its Lebanese identity, pointing to the sacrifices of thousands of its members killed in what it described as the defense of Lebanon, as well as its long history of fighting Israeli occupation and defending Lebanese territory and sovereignty.

Hezbollah reaffirmed its close relationship with Iran, describing it as a relationship of which it is “proud,” and said Tehran had supported Lebanon in liberating its territory, restoring its sovereignty and rights, and remained alongside the country during successive crises. 

It also pointed to Iran’s role in reconstruction efforts following the 2006 war.

The group further accused the United States of lacking the moral and legal standing to judge the patriotism of others, citing U.S. military involvement from Vietnam to Afghanistan and Iraq, its support for Israel during the war in Gaza, and what Hezbollah described as U.S. backing for Israeli attacks in Lebanon, Yemen and Syria, as well as U.S. attacks on Iran.

Hezbollah said Washington’s record of violating international law and humanitarian principles had disqualified it from presenting itself as an authority over other countries and peoples.

The group concluded by saying that U.S. sanctions and designations would not change its commitment to “resistance” or what it described as the right of Lebanon and its people to defend their territory, sovereignty and resources. 

It added that the resistance remained an integral part of Lebanon’s past, present and future.