MP Salim Sayegh has accused Hezbollah of maintaining its arsenal as a tool for regional bargaining, warning that the group’s continued militarization is stalling efforts to build a functional state, driving away investors, and deterring Lebanese expatriates from returning home.

In a televised interview with OTV, the Kataeb Party lawmaker questioned why the issue of Hezbollah’s arms — once considered resolved under UN Security Council Resolution 1701 — had resurfaced in the country’s political discourse.

“There’s inexplicable confusion among the Lebanese about the American position,” Sayegh said, referring to the recent visit by U.S. Deputy Special Envoy Morgan Ortagus. “Hezbollah’s weapons are part of the ceasefire framework and fall under the scope of international resolutions. This issue was removed from domestic political debate and placed under the jurisdiction of the Quintet Committee, which works with the army and UNIFIL.”

“It’s surprising that we’re still discussing it, as if the matter is unresolved,” he added.

Sayegh underscored that Lebanon’s government, including Speaker Nabih Berri, had agreed that no weapons should exist outside state authority.

“Trying to dodge or obscure this issue doesn't help us build a state,” he said. “The real question is: can any group hold weapons and control territory outside the framework of the state, while we continue to claim we want to build a real state?”

He said Hezbollah is waiting for outside guidance, and that its weapons now serve only as a negotiation tool in regional power dynamics.

“They haven’t made up their minds,” Sayegh said. “They’re waiting for signals from abroad, even though Iran’s official position is clear — international resolutions must be implemented, and Hezbollah should evolve into a political party. But some factions within Iran still believe the weapons offer them leverage, and they want to hold onto that.”

“Hezbollah’s weapons today serve just one purpose which is to be used as leverage in negotiations. Nothing more.”

According to Sayegh, the party must accept that its arsenal no longer holds weight in regional or international calculations.

“If there’s no clear answer, then it’s time to enforce international law,” he said. “Hezbollah signed on to Resolution 1701 and the arrangements that came with it.”

While stopping short of calling for forced disarmament, Sayegh said Lebanon could not remain in limbo.

“A historic step is needed. But who will take it today?” he asked. “It’s clear now: the weapons have become a burden on Lebanon. The consequences are all around us.”

He warned that Hezbollah’s military rhetoric is deterring much-needed economic recovery.

“Statements like ‘we’ve regained our strength’ or ‘we can go back to war whenever we want’ are more dangerous than bombs,” he said. “How can we expect investors or expatriates to return under such conditions?”

Sayegh called on Hezbollah to fully transition into a civilian political party, being the only way, he argued, to remove any pretext for continued instability.

“You signed a document handing over security and military authority to the Lebanese state. This is not optional. It’s mandatory,” he said. “Returning to the state’s fold is no longer a choice; it’s an obligation dictated by reality.”

Turning to domestic politics, Sayegh expressed confidence in Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s government, but emphasized that competence alone is not enough.

“All ministers are accountable to the people,” he said. “They are capable, yes. But leadership is about making decisions. The real issue is: who makes the final call?”

He also rejected claims that the Lebanese state had abandoned southern Lebanon to Hezbollah.

“No one has the right to speak on behalf of the south,” Sayegh said. “The state didn’t abandon the region. It was prevented from deploying the army there after the Israeli withdrawal in 2000.”

Hezbollah, he said, had blocked state deployment under the pretext of supporting Palestinian resistance groups. It wasn’t until the 2006 war and the implementation of Resolution 1701 that the army was finally allowed to move south.

“That’s when we saw real security and stability. The Lebanese army brought that, not the resistance,” he said.

As Lebanon marks the 50th anniversary of the outbreak of its civil war on April 13, 1975, Sayegh called for honest national introspection.

“We’ve been saying for years that it’s time for everyone to speak honestly about their actions during the war,” he said. “That’s how reconciliation begins in a calm and thoughtful way.”

He also criticized Lebanese leaders for remaining stuck in outdated narratives.

“The world has moved on. Major powers are shifting their strategies in the region. But here we are, still speaking the language of the past,” he said. “What Lebanon needs today are heroes of the present and not just of the past.”