Hezbollah officials said the group remains committed to the ceasefire with Israel and does not intend to respond to the recent killing of its top commander, even as senior Iranian figures publicly urged retaliation for the killing of a top Lebanese commander.

A political official and sitting MP, who requested anonymity, told The National that the assassination of Hezbollah’s chief of staff, Haytham Ali Tabatabai, is being viewed as “a natural outcome” of the long-running confrontation with Israel and does not warrant an immediate response.

A senior Iranian diplomat based in the Middle East, who oversees relations with Hezbollah, echoed that stance, stressing that the group “makes its own decisions” despite calls by other Iranian leaders for revenge.

“The resistance remains committed to the ceasefire,” the Hezbollah MP said, adding that the group supports Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s call for “the enemy’s withdrawal from the areas it occupies and the halt of its attacks.” 

He argued that maintaining ambiguity over whether or how Hezbollah might retaliate ultimately benefits Lebanon.

“Whether there is retaliation or not — and whether the resistance chooses to remain silent — these factors serve Lebanon’s position. The political authorities should use this moment to strengthen both their political and diplomatic stance,” he said.

The officials spoke days after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps vowed revenge for Tabatabai’s killing, declaring: “The right of the Axis of Resistance and Lebanese Hezbollah to avenge the blood of the brave fighters of Islam is unquestionable.”

Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, went further, saying Israel “continues its adventures” and that confrontation is inevitable.

But the senior Iranian diplomat insisted that Tehran does not direct Hezbollah’s military decisions.

“Iran did not intervene when Hezbollah was attacked, just as Hezbollah did not intervene when Iran was attacked,” he said. “This is the true nature of the relationship — contrary to what is widely claimed, Hezbollah is not simply following Iranian orders.”

“Hezbollah makes its own decisions, even if consultation naturally takes place among resistance factions. Each actor ultimately decides independently how and when to act,” he added, insisting that Hezbollah’s actions throughout the conflict were self-determined.

“There was no Iranian request for Hezbollah to intervene, strike, or expand its operations,” he said. “Remaining in Lebanon, limiting the war, choosing when to act — all of this was Hezbollah’s decision. We did not ask him to leave Lebanon or stay. These were choices he made personally.”