The United States is weighing further sanctions against Lebanese politicians, security officials and judges accused of obstructing efforts to disarm Hezbollah, as Washington steps up pressure on Beirut to enforce government decisions and curb the Iran-backed group’s military activities.

The potential measures would follow previous rounds of sanctions targeting individuals suspected of helping Hezbollah finance its operations or facilitating the flow of weapons to the group. A further focus is preventing efforts to obstruct the implementation of the government’s disarmament policy.

A Lebanese diplomatic source told Annahar that the U.S. Treasury Department and the administration more broadly do not consult Lebanese officials or inform them in advance about sanctions decisions, either directly or indirectly.

Lebanon has neither the means nor the authority to intervene in the process or influence who is targeted, whether through its embassy in Washington or the Foreign Ministry, the source said.

Any new sanctions would likely resemble those imposed last May and June, potentially targeting individuals whom Washington believes are obstructing the government’s plan to place all weapons under state control, the source added.

The plan was approved by the Cabinet on Sept. 5, 2025. The sanctions could also target individuals suspected of impeding implementation of a government decision issued on March 2 that banned Hezbollah’s military activities.

Washington has repeatedly stressed the need to disarm Hezbollah, but its demands extend beyond public calls for the group to surrender its weapons. The United States is also pressing the Lebanese Army to take concrete steps to implement Cabinet decisions and the provisions of the framework agreement.

Sanctions threat follows stalled military talks

The prospect of sanctions against politicians, security officials and judges emerged after military talks between Lebanon and Israel concluded in Tampa, Florida, with the Lebanese side rejecting direct military coordination with Israel.

The issue was a central focus of a recent telephone call between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, according to the report. Rubio also raised the need to pursue the investigation into the explosives shipment seized in Dahr al-Baydar.

Diplomatic sources expect the potential sanctions to target political and security officials, as well as judges, over what Washington views as efforts to obstruct the disarmament decision and prevent the Lebanese Army from carrying out its responsibilities.

The sources did not rule out sanctions against military officers, citing a precedent set last May, when Washington imposed measures on a serving Lebanese Army officer and another officer with General Security. The decision drew no official response from the Lebanese authorities.

Salam insists only Cabinet can revisit disarmament plan

Against this backdrop, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s remarks during the latest Cabinet session at Baabda Palace were particularly significant.

Addressing the issue of placing all weapons under state control, Salam said the government had asked the army to prepare an implementation plan and had endorsed it in September 2025. In March 2026, he added, the Cabinet reaffirmed the need to continue implementing the plan across all Lebanese territory.

“No one, whoever they may be, has the standing or authority to reconsider this decision except the Cabinet,” Salam said.

His remarks amounted to a clear call for the army to continue implementing the plan and underscored the government’s position that the decision could not be overturned by individual officials or other parties.

The statement was followed by tougher public positions from political figures and lawmakers regarding the military institution, with some explicitly urging the army to begin disarming Hezbollah.

Dahr al-Baydar explosives case remains unresolved

A second source of tension concerns the investigation into an explosives shipment seized in Dahr al-Baydar . Washington has repeatedly called for the case to be pursued to its conclusion, including through a referral to the Court of Justice.

The proposal was included on the agenda of the latest Cabinet session but was not approved after Aoun and Salam requested more time to allow the investigation to proceed.

Justice Minister Adel Nassar is expected to raise the proposal again at the next Cabinet meeting and remains determined to secure the case’s referral to the court.