A handout picture provided by the office of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei shows him during a meeting with, then deputy chief of Lebanon's Hezbollah group, Naim Qassem (L) on July 30, 2024 in the Iranian Tehran. (Credit: Iranian Supreme Leader's Website/AFP)
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has named Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem as his "representative" in Lebanon, Iranian media reported Wednesday.
"The leader of the revolution in a decree introduced Sheikh Naim Qassem, secretary general of Hezbollah, as his representative in Lebanon," Tasnim news agency said.
Tasnim carried a copy of the official decree which said Qassem will represent Khamenei in handling "non-litigious matters" and "managing religious affairs" in Lebanon.
The news agency recalled that Qassem's predecessor Hassan Nasrallah – who was killed in an Israeli air strike on south Beirut in Sept. 27 – had held the same title.
Hezbollah is part of the "axis of resistance," an alliance of Iran-backed armed groups opposed to Israel and its U.S. ally.
Khamenei, who has the final say in all matters of state in Iran, has representatives in all of Iran's provinces with a mandate to collect religious funds and perform other duties.
Qassem was named Hezbollah leader in October after heir apparent Hashem Safieddine was killed in an Israeli strike shortly after Nasrallah's death.
Hezbollah is to hold a public funeral for both Nasrallah and Safieddine on Feb. 23. It had put off public commemorations for safety reasons until after a fragile cease-fire with Israel took hold on Nov. 27.
