Marwan Hamadeh: International decision made to resolve Hezbollah's weapons

BEIRUT — In an interview with the Voice of Lebanon radio station on Sunday, Progressive Socialist Party MP Marwan Hamadeh stated that a decisive international decision has been made to address Hezbollah's weapons.

Hamadeh explained that this international decision comes in response to Hezbollah's weapons potentially being used as an "Iranian pressure card" in Tehran's nuclear talks with the U.S. administration.

During the radio interview, the MP added that US envoy Morgan Ortagus' recent visit to Lebanon did not bring any significant developments, except for her "smooth and softened" rhetoric regarding Hezbollah’s disarmament. He noted that Ortagus emphasized that Lebanese leaders should determine both the timing and mechanism for the weapons' removal.

Moreover, Hamadeh revealed that Hezbollah's leaders, who are implicitly hoping for a favorable and peaceful resolution to the US-Iran nuclear negotiations, can not evade the handover of weapons. He emphasized that this was the key point Ortagus made — that no progress can be expected from the nuclear talks without addressing Hezbollah’s weapons.

Ortagus held what were deemed positive meetings with Lebanese officials on Saturday. Her visit comes at a time of rising tensions in Lebanon and Israel's apparent desire to eventually normalize relations with Beirut.