In response to US threats against Iran, Hezbollah 'will not remain neutral,' Qassem says

BEIRUT – Addressing U.S. threats of strikes against Iran, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem said Monday that his party is “concerned with the need to confront this threat.”

“We also consider it directed at us, and we reserve full latitude to act as we see fit,” he said, adding that Hezbollah could “intervene or not intervene.”

“We cannot remain silent in the face of threats from Trump or anyone else against Imam Khamenei, and we are concerned with all necessary measures to respond,” he added. Qassem spoke during a speech in support of the Islamic Republic of Iran, broadcast on the party’s channel, Al-Manar.

“As for how we will act, those are details the battle itself will determine, according to approaches proportionate to the circumstances at the time — but we will not remain neutral,” he said. He also stated that “mediators have made it clear that Israel and the United States are considering whether to strike Hezbollah before Iran, Iran before Hezbollah, or both simultaneously.”

Qassem also warned of the risk that “a war against Iran could ignite the region,” while adding that “capitulation means losing everything, without limit, whereas defense leaves hope open to many possibilities.”

“Do not threaten us with death; it is not in your hands, but in the hands of Almighty God,” he concluded. “Dignity and honor, however, are in our hands, and we will not relinquish them, because they are a responsibility.”

Iran Praises Lebanon’s 'Honorable Position'

In a show of support suggesting that Lebanon’s Shiite community stands behind the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ali al-Khatib, vice president of the Supreme Shiite Council, and Hassan al-Masri, vice president of Amal’s political bureau, spoke before Qassem.

Al-Khatib, considered closer to Hezbollah than to Amal, said that Iran “represents the ideological barrier against the "right of force" and upholds the principle of the "force of right" to establish justice in the face of the brutality of dominant powers, embodied by the United States.” For his part, al-Masri stated that “we stand in solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Iran, supporting its consistent positions alongside the oppressed of the world.”

Iran quickly responded, welcoming what it called “Lebanon’s honorable position.” “From the bottom of our hearts, to Lebanon and its proud people, thank you for your honorable stance alongside the Islamic Republic of Iran during today’s solidarity ceremony,” the Iranian embassy in Lebanon wrote in a post on X. “This great people always proves that loyalty is in its nature, and the overwhelming outpouring of emotion that enveloped us is the clearest proof that hearts are connected and that the spirit is one,” the message continued. “Our relationship [with Lebanon] is an unbreakable bond of brotherhood,” it concluded.