October 9, 2026
The US State Department has escalated its rhetoric towards Hezbollah and Iran, denying the validity of circulating reports about the party receiving Iranian funding worth $200 million, and at the same time affirming Washington’s commitment to continuing to tighten the financial noose on the party and supporting the Lebanese government in efforts to rebuild the south.
The US State Department explained, in statements to Al-Hadath channel, that “Hezbollah is promoting, through anonymous sources, news that it has received $200 million from Iran,” stressing that “that money does not exist in reality,” and warning that the party is trying to “save its face” after being subjected to “crushing blows” and causing the suffering of innocent Lebanese.
The ministry accused the party of “bringing nothing but misery to Lebanon” and of igniting a war “on behalf of Tehran,” which resulted in material damage estimated at billions of dollars, stressing that Washington is continuing to “stifle Hezbollah’s financial resources through sanctions,” and will not allow it to recover under the administration of US President Donald Trump.
On the other hand, the US State Department highlighted its continued support for “the legitimate Lebanese government’s ability to reconstruct the south,” in a move that reflects the US administration’s commitment to linking the recovery path to strengthening the presence of the state and its official institutions.
Regarding the Iranian file, the ministry indicated that Iranian oil exports “face a stifling siege,” noting that the regime in Tehran is experiencing “a state of anxiety and anticipation for fear of what lurks.”
These developments come in the wake of media reports circulating in recent days stating that Tehran has transferred $200 million to Hezbollah, coinciding with the escalation of American political and financial pressure on both sides, and ongoing discussions about the mechanisms and sources of financing for the reconstruction of the affected areas in Lebanon.
