'Another defeat awaits you in Lebanon': New anti-Israeli poster in Tehran depicts Hezbollah militants

A large poster on a the side of a building depicting Hezbollah fighters with the caption: 'Another defeat awaits you in Lebanon… Nahariya, get ready for the next war!' in Palestine square in Tehran, Iran was revealed, the Iranian Mehr News Agency, a semi-official news agency sponsored by the government of Iran, reported Tuesday.

"The design addresses the possibility of rising tensions on the southern front and the outbreak of a new conflict between Hezbollah and the Zionist entity," the agency said.

A Hezbollah spokesperson told L’Orient Today Wednesday that he “is not aware of the poster.”

An earlier analysis:

UN delegation in Beirut, war decision in Tel Aviv

Despite the November 2024 cease-fire after a 13-month long war between Israel and Hezbollah in parallel to the Gaza conflict, Israeli attacks on Lebanese territory remain daily. Israel regularly accuses Hezbollah of trying to rebuild its military wing, heavily weakened by war.

Cabinet has, for its part, decided to regain the monopoly on weapons, while Hezbollah refuses the idea of disarmament throughout the country. The party, however, does not oppose the dismantling of its infrastructure in the south. Washington and Tel Aviv, for their part, are urging Beirut to speed up the process of Hezbollah's disarmament.

Rajji declined to present Iranian ambassador’s credentials to Lebanon’s cabinet

Contacted by L'Orient Today, Lebanon's foreign Affairs ministry did not wish to comment on the matter at this time.

Relations between Lebanon and Iran have witnessed a series of tensions in the past months, as Beirut tries to distance itself from Teheran, after years of the latter's influence on Lebanon, through its proxy in the country, Hezbollah.

According to our colleague Mounir Rabih, Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji has reportedly stalled the approval of credentials for Iran’s newly named ambassador.

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Tehran and Hezbollah’s great dilemma: Confrontation or strategic patience?

Rajji had told Al Jazeera last week that Iran’s role in Lebanon and the region has fueled instability, saying Beirut is open to dialogue only if Tehran stops interfering in Lebanon’s internal affairs and funding an illegal group.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had invited Raggi to Tehran, an offer Rajji declined, proposing instead a neutral venue. Araghchi said he understood Lebanon’s position, expressed willingness to visit Beirut if invited.

Lebanese people split over the poster

On social media, the poster in Iran was welcomed by some users, while others expressed anger over it.

"A poster for the heroes of Hezbollah," wrote Amal Yasin, a Lebanese X user.

An opinion that Lebanese researcher and journalist Sawsan Mhanna does not share: "The poster in Tehran does not say 'We will fight,' but clearly states: Lebanon is the battlefield, and the people of southern Lebanon are the fuel. Iran does not defend Lebanon; it uses it as a forward shield."

For his part, user Fadi Reslan wrote: "Lebanon is trying to rebuild itself and rid itself of the burdens of war, while Iran seeks to disrupt life there and drag it into a new conflict."