Deep skepticism regarding the US-Iran agreement is emerging among Hezbollah's opponents in Lebanon in light of a letter that Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem published on Tuesday showing appreciation to Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Qalibaf.
The letter, which thanks Qalibaf for his efforts to "compel Israel to immediately and permanently halt military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon," is being viewed as presumptive by Hezbollah's opposition - as the group's political rivals question Iran's actual ability to enforce an Israeli withdrawal.
The "Strong Republic" bloc of the Lebanese Forces party - one of the largest and most influential Christian parties in Lebanon - stated that any agreement between the United States and Iran is strictly a bilateral matter between those two nations.
They argued that the ceasefire included in the understandings is regional in scope and does not practically alter the situation on the ground in Lebanon, noting that "the entity fighting in Lebanon is Israel, not the United States."
They accused Tehran of providing Hezbollah with mere "lip service" to keep the organization fighting for Iranian interests.
Ceasefire doesn't change situation in Lebanon, Israel may continue fighting
They further asserted that the solution is not simply a temporary ceasefire, but a definitive end to Lebanon's cycle of wars. This, they argued, must be achieved by dismantling all armed groups operating outside state control, first and foremost Hezbollah.
Similarly, the Lebanese Kataeb Party, which views Hezbollah as a primary threat to Lebanese sovereignty, emphasized that Lebanon is not bound by any agreement affecting its affairs unless the Lebanese state itself is involved through its official institutions and the authorized delegation conducting negotiations in Washington.
The party called for securing an Israeli withdrawal, halting attacks, and implementing government decisions to consolidate all weapons under state authority and restore full security control to the state.
Meanwhile, a political source told the Lebanese newspaper Nidaa al-Watan that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam are facing intense pressure to withdraw from their current negotiating track.
This pressure comes amid claims by certain factions that the US-Iranian agreement could inherently lead to a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Withdrawal planned to be completed before deal between Iran, US
However, Aoun and Salam are refusing to back down and insist on pursuing direct negotiations. They maintain that Lebanon has no other path to achieving a full, comprehensive, and stable peace except through direct talks.
From their perspective, the country must break free from Iranian influence, standing firm on the principle that the Lebanese government is the sole authority empowered to negotiate the nation's future - not any foreign country or outside proxy.
The source added that the thank-you letter sent yesterday by Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem to Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Qalibaf is part of these coordinated pressures aimed at keeping Lebanon as a bargaining chip in Iran's hands.
The source stated, "Official Lebanon completely rejects this, particularly since Lebanon has made significant strides in breaking free from Iranian dominance over its decision-making, and it has no intention of going backward." The current goal, according to the source, is to solidify Lebanon's right to self-determination and defend its sovereignty.
On the other side, a source within the "Shia Duo" (the political alliance between Hezbollah and the Amal Movement in Lebanon) told the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat that Hezbollah received a message from Iranian officials indicating that following the signing of the agreement this coming Friday, Israel is expected to begin a gradual withdrawal from the Lebanese territories under its control.
According to this message, the withdrawal is slated to be fully completed before the formal signing of the nuclear deal between Iran and the United States - meaning within the designated 60-day window.