Member of the Kataeb Party's political bureau, Alain Hakim, said Iran is seeking to retain influence over Lebanon while the United States is working to place the country's future exclusively in Lebanese hands, arguing that recent American positions have reflected that approach.

Speaking to MFM radio, Hakim said the latest statements by Hezbollah lawmakers were particularly concerning, describing their calls for the downfall of the current administration as a departure from both legal norms and Lebanon's sovereign political framework.

"The recent positions taken by Hezbollah MPs were clear in calling for the end of the current presidential term," Hakim said. "That represents a departure from the law and from sovereign national positions, especially under these difficult circumstances and while negotiations with Israel are ongoing."

Despite the political tensions, Hakim expressed optimism about the period ahead, citing the positions adopted by President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and sovereign political forces.

Hakim also argued that Hezbollah's extensive tunnel network was the result of years of institutional exploitation and weak State oversight. He linked the issue to illicit activities, particularly the smuggling of Captagon, which he said had damaged Lebanon's legitimate economy.

"Hezbollah's tunnels are the product of the abuse of power at every level, particularly through Captagon smuggling, which harmed and weakened the legal economy," he said.

Addressing Lebanon's negotiations with the International Monetary Fund, Hakim rejected the notion that the IMF imposes conditions on countries, describing the institution's role primarily as a gateway to investment and international confidence.

"The IMF does not force anyone to do anything," he said. "Signing an agreement simply opens the door to investment in Lebanon, and the Fund's direct financial contribution to rebuilding the state is very limited."

Hakim said there are no fixed formulas imposed on the Lebanese state or its negotiators, but argued that Lebanon itself bears responsibility for the slow progress in talks because of internal divisions and inconsistent economic planning.

"The responsibility lies with us," he said. "The fragmentation, the multiple sets of figures, the different drafts and future economic policies across ministries create confusion and leave the IMF uncertain about the direction Lebanon wants to take."

On banking sector reform, Hakim said the legislative track has advanced further than in previous years, but implementation remains the central challenge.

"The reform process has entered a more advanced legislative phase compared with previous years," he said. "The problem is that laws are being passed but not implemented, including legislation on bank restructuring and the financial gap."

He added that credibility and transparency remain the missing elements in Lebanon's reform efforts.

"The most important issues remain credibility and transparency, and both are still lacking," he said.

Commenting on a recent ruling by Lebanon's State Shura Council, Hakim said the decision helped restore clarity to the debate over the country's financial crisis.

"The ruling put matters back on the right track," he said. "This is a systemic crisis."

Hakim argued that the biggest challenge remains determining how losses should be distributed among the Lebanese state, the central bank, and commercial banks, while the most difficult issue continues to be the scale of deposit recovery for account holders.

"The core problem is how losses are allocated between the state, Banque du Liban, and the banks," he said. "The real sticking point is the size of deposit recovery, which is why practical solutions must be found."