A senior adviser to Iran's supreme leader said Sunday that the country would "resolutely support" Hezbollah in the group's efforts to confront Tehran's regional foe, Israel.
The remarks by Ali Akbar Velayati came as Lebanon faces pressure from the United States and Israel to disarm Hezbollah, which engaged in more than a year of hostilities with Israel following the outbreak of the Gaza war.
"Hezbollah, as one of the most important pillars of the resistance front, plays a fundamental role in confronting Zionism," state news agency IRNA quoted Velayati as saying to Hezbollah's representative in Tehran.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran, under the leadership and orders of the (supreme) leader, will continue to resolutely support this valuable and selfless group on the front lines of the resistance," he added.
Iran has for years supported what it calls the axis of resistance, a network of anti-Israel armed groups that includes Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Hezbollah was weakened by its recent war with Israel and by the overthrow of Syria's Bashar al-Assad, who had provided the group an overland link with Iran.
Lebanon has committed to disarming the group, starting with the country's south, where it has historically held sway.
Velayati recently drew sharp criticism from Beirut after he said in late November that the "existence of Hezbollah is more essential for Lebanon than daily bread."
Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi responded on X that "what is more important to us than water and bread is our sovereignty, our freedom, and the independence of our internal decision-making."
Following the exchange, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi officially invited his Lebanese counterpart to visit Tehran for negotiations.
Raggi declined the offer, and in an interview with Al Jazeera days later, he described Iran's role in the region as "extremely negative" and one of "the sources of instability," especially in Lebanon.
In a post on X, he also blamed Iran for Hezbollah not having been disarmed.
"Hezbollah cannot hand over its weapons without an Iranian decision, and its concern today is to buy time and preserve itself internally in order to rebuild its power," Raggi said of the group.
AFP
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