Lebanon refused a $60 million aid offer from Iran, citing concerns over international sanctions, the Islamic Republic’s ambassador to Beirut Mojtaba Amani said on Saturday, amid tension over Hezbollah’s arms and Tehran's role in Beirut's politics.
"The Iranian nation sent aid to the Lebanese people, including $60 million and oil supplies, but the Lebanese government refused to accept it because Iran is under sanctions," Amani said in an interview with Lebanon's LBCI TV.
He said the aid could have helped address part of the Lebanese people’s problems at a time when the country is struggling with economic and social crises.
"The Americans have been promising assistance to Lebanon for three years but have failed to deliver on their promise," the envoy said.
Given the tightening of US and UN sanctions against Iran, any financial dealings or aid from Tehran face international restrictions and sensitivities.
Earlier, Ali Larijani, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said during a visit to Lebanon that Iran was ready to cooperate in the country’s reconstruction following Israeli attacks.
Iran has no information regarding weapons held by Hezbollah, the Iranian ambassador in Beirut said, amid mounting calls by the US and the international community for the Tehran-backed group's disarmament.
Amani said he did not have precise information on whether Hezbollah would again use its weapons against Israel, but said that Sheikh Naim Qassem, the secretary-general of Hezbollah, has said the group is ready to confront any war or attack.
Amani said resistance "is not limited to weapons but stems from willpower — a will that can expel the occupier."
Lebanon’s president Joseph Aoun told Larijani in August that no group may bear arms or depend on foreign support, stressing that cooperation must remain within “national sovereignty and mutual respect.”
The issue has gained urgency as the United States pushes a new plan for Hezbollah’s disarmament, delivered by President Donald Trump’s regional envoy Tom Barrack. The proposal lays out Washington’s most detailed steps yet to remove the group’s weapons after its war with Israel last year.
Founded in 1982 by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Hezbollah has grown into Lebanon’s most powerful military and political organization, with capabilities surpassing the national army. The group has fought multiple wars with Israel and repeatedly rejected demands to dismantle its military wing.
In August, the Lebanese cabinet ordered the army to draw up plans to disarm Hezbollah as part of a broader effort to consolidate state control over weapons under a US-backed truce with Israel. Tehran condemned the move, accusing Western powers of seeking to weaken Lebanon’s defenses.
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem warned in August that any attempt to seize the group’s arsenal “would plunge Lebanon into war,” vowing the Iran-backed movement would not give up its arms.
Psychological-Flow55 on October 12nd, 2025 at 21:22 UTC »
Iran is severely weakened , I dont think people understand it's in worst spot since the 1979 islamic revolution tjay gave us the nightmare that was Ayatollah Khomeini.
the 12 day war with Israel severely exposed the weakness of Iranian intellgence, domestic security, it air, and missle defense, as well as saw Israel take control of airspace, while the Ayatollah himself went into hiding, and the leadership was in a chaotic scramble. Iran saw it allies reciprocate by sidong on the sidelines (like Iran did when the hightailed it in syria instead of save Assad regime , sat on the sidelines as Hezbollah and Southern Lebanon got decimated by Israel, and disappointed Hamas by not helping Hamas by opening up a front since oct.7th, or retaliating enough when Israel assassinated a hamas leader in Iran)
the IRGC/Quds forces hasnt been the same since President Trump rightfully ordered the assassination of the leader of the IRGC/Quds force Solimani and again Iran retaliation was seen as soft throughout the world a few rockets at a us base in Iraq? thay sent signals to Iran allies if thays all they do for the head of their intellgence, what will they do for you?
losing Syria to a Israeli/American/Turkish sphere of influence was proabably it worse foreign policy disaster, Syria as it satelite state cant be replaced, even in Iraq it influence through the Iraqi PMF milltias in the shia communties is checked the nationalism, oppruitnism, and populism of the popular Ayatollah Muqtadra Al Sadr who can reach out to minorities like the iraqi Christian's, the sunnis and make alliances with the likes of the iraqi communist party and through his family lineage( they remained in iraq throughout the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, and the persecutions in the 1990s, unlike other shia factions that relocated to iran, london or washington) could claim to be a populist iraqi nationalist and has opposed both american and Iranian meddling in Iraqi internal affairs,etc. losing Syria is a very negative lost I dont think the current regime in Iran can come back from
while the us pulled out of the Afghanistan was cheered by Iran, the Deobandi Taliban came to power, and since then the issue of the Helmand river water dispute as well as the issue of Iran wanting to send the Afghan immigrants and refugees back to Iran, while the Taliban says "not so fast", as water wars from the former Indochina to the Horn of Africa to the Indian subcontinent become a problem years down the line, the issue of the 1973 agreement being violated between Iran and Afghanistan could lead to war years down the road as water becomes a commodity and water scarcity becomes a issue. The Taliban and Iran already had clashes and The Taliban midevil issue of diplomacy is sending suicide bombers to the border as a issue.
ISSUE.
A brain drain of working age Iranians and those with skills and talents to the west, Qatar, the UAE, Turkey, and so fourth as hyperinflation, high debt and high unemployment continues to be a huge issue
the hijab issue shows women arent scared anymore and more and more they refuse to wear the hijab , a land after the last protests Iran gave some surprising concessions by limiting the powers of the relgious/morality police, the showed many Iranians at home and disapora that the regime internal power is weaker than people thought.
GiantEnemaCrab on October 12nd, 2025 at 20:34 UTC »
60 million is like a third of 1% of Lebanon's GDP. It isn't NOTHING but the country is trying to decouple itself from Hezbollah (and rebuild) so I can see why they would look elsewhere. The US / West have deeper pockets anyway and seem more than willing to help.
Cannot-Forget on October 12nd, 2025 at 20:33 UTC »
Lebanon rejected a $60 million aid offer and oil supplies from Iran over fears of violating international sanctions, Iran's ambassador to Beirut said. He criticized the US for failing to deliver on promised assistance, claiming the Iranian aid could have eased Lebanon's economic crisis.
The statement came amid renewed tension over Hezbollah's weapons and Tehran’s influence. Iran's envoy said he had no details on Hezbollah's arms but reiterated the group's readiness to confront Israel if attacked.
Lebanon's president reaffirmed that no faction should bear arms or rely on foreign backing, aligning with a new US initiative, pushed by envoy Tom Barrack, to disarm Hezbollah following last year's war with Israel.
The Lebanese cabinet has tasked the army with drafting disarmament plans under a US brokered truce, a move condemned by Iran. Hezbollah warned any attempt to seize its weapons would lead to war.
So in essence, Lebanon seems to continue to want to distance itself from Iranian influence, but is still very hesitant to take meaningful steps to finally disarm Hezbollah.