Hezbollah’s Qassem Thanks Iran’s Larijani for Support Against Israel

Hezbollah’s secretary-general Naim Qassem on Thursday thanked Iran for its “continuous support” to Lebanon in its struggle against Israel during talks in Beirut with Iranian Supreme National Security Council secretary Ali Larijani. The meeting, attended by Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, came a day after Larijani visited the grave of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, killed in Israeli strikes amid ongoing hostilities.

According to Hezbollah’s statement, Qassem praised Iran’s role in supporting Lebanon’s unity, sovereignty, and independence. Larijani’s one-day visit also included meetings with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and the prime minister both stressed opposition to any external interference in Lebanon’s internal affairs, while affirming friendship with Iran.

The visit followed recent Iranian declarations rejecting any disarmament of Hezbollah, asserting that weapons should remain in the hands of the state’s allies in resistance. Lebanese leaders reiterated that such matters should be decided domestically without outside influence. Larijani told reporters after meeting parliament’s speaker that “each country decides its own future.”