The Lebanese army is expected to begin quietly removing Hezbollah weapons from areas north of the Litani River starting next week, in coordination with the group’s leadership and out of the public eye, sources familiar with the plan told Nidaa Al-Watan.

The move comes as the broader Middle East appears poised for a major strategic shift, with mounting expectations of a breakthrough in nuclear negotiations between Iran and the West. CNN reported this week that the talks have taken a positive turn, citing sources who believe a signed agreement could emerge from the next round.

If a deal is reached, diplomats say, the region could be transformed on multiple fronts — politically, militarily, and economically, with Lebanon expected to play a central role.

“The anticipated agreement, alongside changing geopolitical realities, would undoubtedly reshape the face of the region,” one diplomatic source said, speaking to Nidaa Al-Watan. 

For Hezbollah, the implications of a nuclear deal could be especially significant. Sources noted that the group continues to maintain its arsenal largely as a negotiating card for Iran, which has so far resisted giving up its regional leverage before finalizing an agreement.

“If the deal goes through, it would formally mark the end of Hezbollah’s broader strategic project," one source said.

The Lebanese government’s efforts to reclaim control over arms held by non-state actors,  notably Hezbollah, have intensified in recent weeks, triggering an aggressive backlash from the group’s media outlets.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji have come under particularly heavy fire, following public comments emphasizing the importance of disarming illegal groups. The criticism escalated after Salam told The Wall Street Journal that the government had achieved nearly 80% of its objectives in removing weapons from the country’s south.

“Hezbollah appears to be trying to drive a wedge between Prime Minister Salam and President Joseph Aoun,” one political source said, noting that Aoun’s position on the weapons issue is aligned with Salam’s. The same source added that the proper response to Hezbollah’s campaign is to push forward with the implementation of the government’s disarmament plan, as outlined in the ministerial policy statement, a document that Hezbollah’s own parliamentary bloc endorsed.