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HomeWorldHezbollah won’t act against US or Israel for now, says Iran can defend itself : Report

Hezbollah won’t act against US or Israel for now, says Iran can defend itself : Report

A Hezbollah spokesperson said, “Iran is a strong country capable of defending itself; logic dictates that it can confront America and Israel.”

June 22, 2025 / 12:59 IST
The strikes came after more than a week of speculation of forthcoming US military intervention.

Lebanese armed group Hezbollah said it will not immediately join the conflict following US airstrikes on Iran’s key nuclear facilities, despite being part of the broader Iran-led Axis of Resistance, reported Newsweek.

The comments came hours after former US President Donald Trump confirmed that American forces had carried out a “very successful attack” on Iran’s Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites.

A report by Newsweek quoting a Hezbollah spokesperson said, “Iran is a strong country capable of defending itself; logic dictates that it can confront America and Israel.”

The spokesperson added, “Hezbollah remains committed to all matters agreed upon since the ceasefire,” referring to a truce signed with Israel in November following last year’s regional escalation triggered by Hamas's surprise attack on Israel.

Israel and Hezbollah have continued to trade accusations over violations of the ceasefire. In recent days, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) launched strikes targeting Hezbollah’s leadership, special units, and military infrastructure in Lebanon, citing intelligence that the group was attempting to rebuild its operational capabilities.

“Despite the attacks carried out by the Israeli enemy, the party has remained committed to the agreement,” the spokesperson told Newsweek.

The US airstrikes came after weeks of speculation, as military movements and diplomatic warnings hinted at a possible intervention.

Addressing the nation, Trump said, “Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated.” He added that while further military action was not immediately planned, the US would respond if peace did not follow swiftly.

Iran has denied pursuing nuclear weapons but has stepped up uranium enrichment significantly since Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal during his first term.

Talks to revive the agreement had been ongoing until Israel launched its own strikes earlier this month, killing senior Iranian commanders and nuclear scientists and prompting Iran to respond with hundreds of missile and drone attacks on Israeli targets.

Despite these developments, Hezbollah has refrained from entering the fray. While Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz recently warned Hezbollah’s new leader, Naim Qassem, against escalation, the group maintains that its position may still change depending on how events unfold.

“The issue remains subject to developments,” the Hezbollah spokesperson said, though they stressed that Iran is capable of defending itself.

Other Iran-aligned groups in the region, such as Iraq’s Kataib Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthi movement (Ansar Allah), have issued stronger warnings about potential retaliation against US assets.

Moneycontrol News
first published: Jun 22, 2025 11:37 am

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