 "US targets Hezbollah funding as Iran funnels $1 billion to group, says Treasury official")
The United States aims to seize what it calls a “moment” in Lebanon to curb Iranian funding to Hezbollah and press the group to disarm, according to John Hurley, the US Treasury Department’s undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence. In an interview on Friday, Hurley said Iran has funnelled about $1 billion to Hezbollah this year despite extensive Western sanctions that have severely weakened its economy.
The US has continued a “maximum pressure” campaign on Tehran to limit its uranium enrichment and regional influence, particularly in Lebanon, where the Iran-backed Hezbollah was left weakened after Israel’s 2023–24 war shattered much of its military power. Washington recently sanctioned two individuals accused of funnelling money through exchange networks to help finance Hezbollah operations.
“There’s a moment in Lebanon now. If we could get Hezbollah to disarm, the Lebanese people could get their country back,” Hurley said. He added that the key to this effort lies in cutting off Iran’s financial lifeline to the group. Speaking to Reuters in Istanbul as part of a regional tour of Turkey, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates and Israel, Hurley said the goal was to rally governments and financial institutions to increase pressure on Iran.
Tehran’s economic strain and regional isolation
Since September, Iran has turned to closer ties with China, Russia and regional neighbours such as the UAE, after negotiations aimed at limiting its nuclear and missile programmes collapsed, triggering the reinstatement of United Nations sanctions. Western powers accuse Tehran of pursuing nuclear weapons capability, enriching uranium to non-civilian levels, obstructing international inspectors, and expanding ballistic missile production — actions that contributed to the June conflict between Israel and Iran. Tehran insists its nuclear activity is for civilian energy use only.
Meanwhile, Israel says Hezbollah is attempting to rebuild its strength, with airstrikes increasing against what Israel describes as Hezbollah-linked sites and operatives. Lebanon’s government has pledged to disarm all non-state militias, including Hezbollah, which was founded in 1982 by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and spearheads the Iran-backed Axis of Resistance. The group began attacking Israel on October 8, 2023, a day after Hamas launched its assault.
Although Hezbollah has not directly blocked Lebanese troops from confiscating weapons caches in the south, it continues to resist full disarmament. During his Middle East tour, his first since taking office under President Donald Trump’s administration, Hurley urged regional governments and financial institutions to isolate Iran economically.
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