Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel launched a sharp attack on Hezbollah and Iran, blaming Tehran for Lebanon’s current crises and accusing it of exploiting the Lebanese militant group as a bargaining chip in its negotiations with Washington.

“If Iran wants to keep destabilizing Lebanon and using Hezbollah as leverage in its talks with the United States, then Hezbollah is nothing more than a mercenary force. It is not acting in the interest of Lebanon, but of another country, at the expense of its own people,” Gemayel said in an interview with the Kuwaiti Al Seyassah newspaper.

He pointed to the government’s recent decision to enforce exclusive state control over weapons, which Hezbollah rejected while warning of civil war if the army attempted to disarm the group.

Gemayel dismissed Hezbollah’s argument that its arsenal was protecting Lebanon.

“Nowhere in the world do you see an armed militia operating alongside the national army. It is time for a change; weapons must be in the hands of the Lebanese Army alone, as in every other country,” he said, adding that Hezbollah’s arms had brought only war and even Israeli occupation.

Gemayel argued that Iran had sacrificed not only Lebanon but also the Shiite community itself, dragging Hezbollah and its ally Amal into conflicts against Israel, against other Lebanese, and even against each other.

“It is time to say to this camp: enough,” he said.

“The solution lies within the Shiite community itself by breaking free from Iran’s grip and stop being dragged into more bloodshed. The ball is in their court. As for the rest of us, we are acting as a State should, insisting that arms remain under the control of the State. We await the army’s disarmament plan, but nothing will be easy until the Shiite community itself rejects Iran’s dictates,” he added.

Gemayel noted that Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri had declared support for exclusive State control of arms, but Iran and Hezbollah quickly reaffirmed their alliance with Amal to block disarmament.

“This means Hezbollah and Iran want to forcibly drag Amal into a conflict it does not want,” he said.

He urged the international community, particularly Arab states, to ramp up pressure on Iran.

“It is clear Iran does not want Lebanon to live. It wants Lebanon to remain a card it can use and discard at will, depending on the needs of its nuclear program or negotiations with America,” he said. “That is why the issue of Iran is not merely an internal Lebanese matter, but an Arab and international responsibility.”

“There are no solutions while weapons remain outside the State. Either Iran must be pressured, or the Lebanese State must carry out its duty. Without disarmament, there will be no stability, no economy, no security, no investment, and, ultimately, no future for Lebanon,” he said.

Gemayel said nearly 90 percent of parliament supports placing all weapons under State control.

“It is unacceptable for the 10 percent represented by Hezbollah to take parliament hostage. I asked every parliamentary bloc whether they supported disarmament, and the only ones opposed were Hezbollah’s MPs, who represent just 10 percent of parliament. Is it acceptable for 10 percent of Lebanese to hold 90 percent hostage to decisions the country does not want?” he said.

Gemayel also accused Iran of damaging Lebanon’s standing in the Gulf by using Hezbollah and enabling drug-smuggling attempts to GCC countries;

“This allowed Iran to hijack what was once a special relationship between Lebanon and the GCC states,” he said.

Gemayel voiced support for efforts by President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to rebuild ties with Gulf countries.

“They are doing an excellent job and taking very bold decisions. What we ask of our Arab friends is to stand with us during this period so Lebanon can return to the Arab fold and become part of the renaissance taking place across the Arab world,” he said.

Gemayel hailed the longstanding friendly ties between Lebanon and Kuwait, praising them as exceptional.

He pointed to the many Kuwaitis who own property in Lebanon and consider the country a second home, expressing hope that Lebanon’s relations with Kuwait and all Gulf states would grow stronger.