Pezeshkian’s message to Lebanon rings false as Iran fuels the country’s chaos

Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian sent a congratulatory message to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on the occasion of Lebanon’s Independence Day, expressing a desire for “stronger bilateral relations” and reaffirming Iran’s “permanent support for the Lebanese people and government.” 

He also claimed that Tehran remains committed to Lebanon’s stability, prosperity, and “peaceful coexistence among all religions and communities.”

But these statements are difficult to take seriously given Iran’s well-documented role in undermining Lebanon’s sovereignty for more than four decades.

Since 1982, Tehran has been the principal backer of Hezbollah, the Iranian-aligned militia that operates as a state within the state. Funded, armed and trained by Iran to the tune of billions of dollars, Hezbollah has repeatedly dragged Lebanon into conflicts it did not choose, weakened its institutions, and entrenched a parallel military structure beyond the authority of the Lebanese government.

Iran’s influence has contributed directly to Lebanon’s political paralysis, economic deterioration, and long-term instability. To describe Tehran as a supporter of Lebanese “prosperity” is therefore a striking contradiction.

If President Pezeshkian seeks credibility on the regional stage, he might start by addressing the severe problems within Iran itself. 

The country faces a deep economic crisis, marked by inflation, chronic unemployment, and international isolation. Instead of making declarations about Lebanon’s future, Tehran would be far better served by confronting its own collapse at home.

Lebanon cannot achieve true independence as long as Iranian-backed armed factions hold more power than the Lebanese state.