Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel launched a sharp attack on Hezbollah and Iran, holding them responsible for Lebanon’s deepening crises and warning that the country is at risk of further devastation unless the State reasserts its authority.

In an interview with Kuwaiti Al Seyassah newspaper, Gemayel said a Hezbollah-linked cell recently uncovered in Kuwait reflects what he described as Iran’s continued interference in Gulf countries. He stressed that Lebanon’s interests are closely tied to the stability of its Arab partners, particularly Gulf states that have long supported the Lebanese economy and host tens of thousands of Lebanese workers.

“Lebanon’s interest lies in the stability and security of its Arab brothers, especially the Gulf countries,” Gemayel said. “Our priority must be to achieve lasting peace and stability at home and with our surroundings, and to protect our people and our land.”

He also strongly condemned what he described as attacks by the Revolutionary Guard and its proxies against Arab countries, arguing that lasting regional stability depends on ending Iran’s efforts to destabilize neighboring states.

“What matters to us in Lebanon is that the Revolutionary Guard stops dragging our country into destructive conflicts through its proxies,” he said. “And just as importantly, Gulf countries want to see an end to threats against their own security and stability.”

Gemayel said any diplomatic effort aimed at stabilizing the situation would be positive, provided it is conducted through Lebanon’s official institutions. However, he argued that progress remains hindered by the fact that decisions of war and peace are still effectively controlled by Hezbollah.

“The problem today is that the decision of war and peace is still in the hands of Hezbollah,” he said. “That makes any negotiation process far more complicated.”

“Hezbollah has long controlled the negotiation file on behalf of Iran,” he said. “If the Lebanese State regains that role, Iran loses a key lever.”

Gemayel called on the Lebanese State to implement its policy of placing all weapons under the control of legitimate security forces and enforcing a ban on Hezbollah’s military and security apparatus, which he said is linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. He argued that such steps are essential to safeguarding Lebanon’s sovereignty and preventing it from becoming a permanent battleground.

He said Hezbollah is unlikely to accept such measures, accusing the group of monopolizing decisions related to war, peace, and negotiations in service of Tehran.

Gemayel reiterated that restricting weapons to the State is not merely a political option but a fundamental requirement for building a functioning state.

“When Hezbollah operates under the authority of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard outside the framework of the state, it means the decision of war and peace is no longer Lebanese,” he said.

He argued that restoring the State’s full authority is the only viable path forward, saying that a strong State would prevent external actors from imposing their agendas. He also called for a unified national position rejecting the use of Lebanon as a platform for regional conflicts.

Warning of escalating risks, Gemayel pointed to Israel’s large-scale military mobilization and Hezbollah’s decision to engage in what he described as a “reckless confrontation” that has placed Lebanon in existential danger.

“We are in a race against time,” he said. “The Lebanese State must act now to assert control over illegal weapons, dismantle Hezbollah’s security structure, and activate the diplomatic track before any expansion of Israeli ground operations, with all the destruction and displacement that would follow.”

Gemayel suggested that Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri is dissatisfied with Hezbollah’s role in dragging Lebanon into a cycle of destruction, reminding that Berri had previously helped negotiate a ceasefire agreement in November 2024. He said this dissatisfaction was reflected in the position of ministers aligned with Berri, who supported a decision to ban Hezbollah’s military and security activities.

He called on Berri to take a clear stance, saying it was necessary to “save the Shiite community from a suicidal path being driven by Iran in line with the interests of the Revolutionary Guard.”

Gemayel warned that continued fighting threatens Lebanon on multiple fronts, from security to the economy and social stability, arguing that Hezbollah has once again entangled the country in a broader regional conflict.

“Unfortunately, the fate of this war is now tied to the fate of the regime in Iran,” he said. “That is something the Lebanese people reject. They want a sovereign country that makes its own decisions.”

He added that while Hezbollah has supported Iran to strengthen its position, there are no guarantees that any future ceasefire involving Tehran would apply to Lebanon, despite the heavy toll being borne by the group’s supporters and the wider Lebanese population.

Gemayel renewed his call for the expulsion of any diplomatic personnel found to be supporting Hezbollah’s military wing and urged authorities to continue pursuing members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard operating in Lebanon.