A U.S. State Department spokesman on Tuesday accused Hezbollah of making false claims about Iranian funding, alleging that the group relies on criminal activities, including drug smuggling and ties to Latin American drug cartels, to finance its operations.

“We heard a lot today from Hezbollah, but the bottom line is that the purported money from Iran simply does not exist,” the spokesman said.

“The money that Hezbollah doesn’t get from Iran for terrorism, it gets from criminal activities like drug smuggling and partnerships with Latin American drug cartels,” the spokesman added, describing the group’s latest announcement as “yet another fake announcement designed to save Hezbollah’s reputation — not help the people they dragged into war in the first place.”

The spokesman called on Hezbollah to stop what he described as false claims and staged press conferences, adding that the group needed to recognize that “they are finished.”

The statement also accused Hezbollah of dragging Lebanon into war at a devastating cost to the country.

“Hezbollah suicidally dragged Lebanon into war,” the spokesman said. “Even if they had any money, they would be using that money for weapons to threaten Israel and intimidate their growing number of opponents.”

“Hezbollah’s weapons have only brought misery and destruction to Lebanon,” the spokesman added.

U.S. Links Reconstruction Aid to Disarmament

The spokesman contrasted Hezbollah’s claims with U.S. efforts to secure international assistance for Lebanon’s reconstruction, saying Washington was working with Gulf and European partners on a plan to unlock billions of dollars in aid.

However, the spokesman stressed that Hezbollah’s disarmament must come first.

“In contrast to the fake claims from Hezbollah, we are actively working with Gulf and European partners on a plan to unlock billions of dollars in assistance for reconstruction in Lebanon, but disarmament must come first,” the spokesman said.

“Things will get better when there is peace, and there will only be peace when Hezbollah is disarmed,” the spokesman added.

The statement reaffirmed Washington’s support for the Trilateral Framework, describing it as the only viable path toward lasting peace and security for Lebanon and Israel.

“The Trilateral Framework remains the only viable path to long-term peace and security for Lebanon and Israel,” the spokesman said, adding that the United States would continue to back the framework in line with its interests in regional stability, preventing further conflict and advancing President Donald Trump’s agenda of promoting peace between nations.

“The disarmament of Hezbollah is an integral part of this process,” the spokesman said.