Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel said Lebanon has embarked on a path to reclaim sovereignty and rebuild State institutions, stressing that Hezbollah must accept disarmament and return to the Lebanese State's fold.

In an interview with Al-Hadath channel, Gemayel said President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam have “done their duty,” and that the proposal on the table obliges Israel to meet demands serving Lebanon’s sovereignty. These include the return of Lebanese prisoners, an Israeli withdrawal from occupied territory, reconstruction in the south, and the exclusivity of arms under State control.

“The plan enshrines full sovereignty and an end to militias so Lebanon can finally become a normal country,” he said.

Gemayel argued the agreement benefits all Lebanese, including Shiites, who would see destroyed homes rebuilt and stop living in fear of another war.

“It is in the interest of the Shiite community to return to the embrace of the state and to the national partnership we have long called for,” he said.

“We wish for the Shiite community to be an inseparable part of the state,” Gemayel said. “But unfortunately, Iran and Hezbollah have long held it hostage, turning the people of the South and the Bekaa into human shields in Tehran’s regional wars. They dragged them into conflicts they had nothing to do with, such as the war in Syria.”

He questioned whether Iran would allow Hezbollah to move along the current positive track.

“It doesn’t surprise me that Tehran continues to entangle Hezbollah, because the solution on the table serves Lebanon, not Iran,” he said. “Iran wants to keep Lebanon as a card in its hand, while Lebanon’s interest is to free itself from being used in war or peace for Iranian goals.”

“We must free ourselves from this situation,” Gemayel said. “But today, because Hezbollah remains ideologically, financially, and militarily tied to the Revolutionary Guard, Iran still controls its decision-making. Otherwise, Hezbollah would never have thrown itself into wars over causes irrelevant to its own base. Iran will try to keep this card in its pocket. But for us, as a Lebanese State—be it the president, the prime minister, or the government as a whole—we are moving on the path of building a State, reclaiming our sovereignty, our decision-making, and our freedom, to be an inseparable part of the Arab world and of the economic renaissance underway across the region.”

“Does Iran want to confront the Lebanese State and block its rise? Our responsibility is not to falter and to continue forward," he stressed. "If that confrontation happens, we will see what form it takes and deal with it accordingly.”

Gemayel insisted there was “no hesitation” in the decision to disarm Hezbollah, adding that little choice but to accept the new reality.

“We will not allow anyone to stand in the way of the Lebanese state or obstruct its sovereign decisions,” he said. “If Hezbollah wants to be a partner, we are ready to ensure its community feels secure, integrate its fighters into the workforce, and hold a reconciliation conference. But the State must have the exclusive right to arms, and that is final.”

"Hezbollah may have a different opinion, but it is up to the State to impose its authority and sovereignty over all Lebanese. It was legitimately elected by the people, and it alone has the exclusive right to use force. It must act in Lebanon’s interest, and no one can block it.”

Gemayel called for a national “truth and reconciliation” conference but stressed that accountability must still be enforced.

“Some political assassinations cannot be pardoned; perpetrators must face trial,” he said, citing South Africa’s model of transitional justice.

He said the Beirut port explosion falls outside reconciliation efforts as a judicial investigation is still ongoing.

The Kataeb leader said Lebanon must restore ties with Gulf states to be part of the Arab world’s economic revival. On Syria, he said Lebanon must maintain open dialogue given their shared border and economic links, but acknowledged that Lebanese groups committed war crimes in Syria that must be addressed.

He dismissed Hezbollah’s claim that fighting in Syria prevented ISIS from reaching Jounieh.

“They fought moderate Syrian opposition, not ISIS. When ISIS clashed with Lebanon in Arsal, Hezbollah evacuated them unharmed on buses,” he said.

Gemayel said Lebanon faces “decisive weeks” that will shape its future. Elections, he added, must take a back seat to the ongoing transitional process led by the president and prime minister.

“For us, Lebanon’s fate is being decided now,” he said. “We must support the transitional process led by President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to rescue Lebanon and move it to a different place. That must be our focus.”

“When this critical stage ends, then we move to thinking about elections,” Gemayel added. “Elections matter, but right now the country’s fate in the coming weeks takes priority.”

“As long as illegal arms remain, they will be our first and last priority,” he said. “Disarmament must happen quickly so we can move on to real issues: the economy, reforms, education, health, and creating jobs. It is time to turn the page and build the State.”